KNOU has been considered as a distinguished lifelong educational institution at home and abroad and recognized as one of the most successful distance education cases at a global level and not just in Asia. As an exemplary member country of ICDE and AAOU, KNOU has been making efforts for international exchange and cooperation.

Since its foundation in 1972, KNOU has been achieving remarkable results in distance higher education. Its achievements are different form European or American models. Korea’s own higher education model experienced a significant growth. KNOU has been an example for developing countries in Asia and Africa. International society’s interest in Korea’s educational models has been increasing. In addition, the Korean government has been making efforts to spread its educational models. KNOU aims to improve its competency and status and benefit the nation by contributing to international society and responding to the internationalization and globalization of higher education.

Various international educational projects of international organizations such as UNESCO comply with KNOU’s will to expand public higher education.

Recently, the Korean government increased its interest and political support for the Korean Educational Model Distribution Project. KNOU has become the benchmark for developing countries, in terms of educational experience and distance education models. Through international cooperation projects with international organizations, KNOU has been improving its ability for internationalization and contributing to public education aa a national university by lining wasy to vitalize and develop higher education.

For more systematic and efficient international cooperation, KNOU launched the Office of International Affairs on July, 2016.