George Mason University Korea Campus has kicked off the fall 2026 semester with a formal matriculation ceremony.
The ceremony was held Saturday at Incheon Global Campus.
This semester's incoming class includes students from nine countries: South Korea, the United States, Mongolia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Spain, Tajikistan, Vietnam and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
International students account for more than 40 percent of the new intake. When the full student body is counted, the campus brings together students from 17 countries for study and exchange.
Senior officials from the main campus in Fairfax, Virginia, attended the ceremony to congratulate the incoming students, including Janet Muir, provost and executive vice president, and Jason Kinser, who took office as provost in July.
George Mason University Korea Campus operates as an extension campus offering the same curriculum and degrees as the Fairfax institution. Students spend three years studying in Korea before completing a final year at the Fairfax campus, giving them academic experience in both countries.
The campus currently offers undergraduate programs in business, economics, global affairs, computer game design and data science, as well as a Master of Laws program.
STEM-designated majors — including economics, data science and computer game design — give students a foundation for academic and career opportunities in the United States. The business program also holds AACSB accreditation.
Graduates are finding opportunities both at home and abroad. In South Korea, alumni have been hired by major firms including Deloitte and EY Hanyoung. In the United States, graduates have joined the local operations of Hyundai Power Transformers USA, Posco America, Samyang Foods USA, Hanwha Vision America, LX Pantos America and LG Electronics USA.
A growing number of alumni are also going on to graduate programs at American universities, including Boston University, Georgetown University, Columbia University and the University of Maryland.
"The experience of learning alongside students of different nationalities and backgrounds — sharing diverse perspectives — is a vital asset for developing global competencies," said Joshua Park, the campus representative. "We will support our students in growing on the world stage, grounded in an educational environment that connects Korea and the United States."
gilbert@heraldcorp.com
