Abstract
The Korea National Open University (KNOU), established on March 9, 1972, as Asia's first open university, aimed to democratize higher education in South Korea. Initially started as a junior college, KNOU evolved into a four-year institution, separating from Seoul National University in 1982, and became an independent university in 1992. Over the decades, KNOU expanded its academic offerings, establishing 24 majors in undergraduate programs and online graduate school to cater to non-traditional learners. However, enrollment has declined since its peak in the early 2000s, due to a shrinking population and the rise of cyber universities. KNOU, established as a distance education university, operates through modern communication technologies instead of traditional classrooms, facilitating interaction between instructors and learners. KNOU also emphasizes learner support, operating multiple regional campuses and providing mentoring and tutoring services to reduce dropout rates, which remain a significant challenge. This chapter presents an overview of KNOU's history, growth, and development, and discusses its unique features. As it enters a new decade with Vision 2032, KNOU aims to strengthen its role as an open platform for lifelong education, adapting to modern learners' needs and enhancing its technological capabilities.