South Korea Closer to Becoming Next Leading Study Destination

The number of international students in South Korea has gone up 15 percent this year, bringing the nation closer to the goal of becoming one of the top ten study destinations worldwide, as reported during a meeting of the Ministry of Education (MoE) on Wednesday.

There are now 208,962 international students studying in the country, which shows notable progress in the Study Korea 300K plan, a project of the Ministry of Education aiming to place South Korea among the top 10 global study destinations by 2027, Erudera.com reports.

“There are around 210,000 international students in Korea, which is a 25 percent increase compared to 2022, before we implemented the Study Korea 300K plan. As local governments actively sought to attract international talent, we also observed an increase in international students outside of the greater Seoul area,” Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho was quoted as saying by Korea JoongAng Daily.

Under the five-year project, 300,000 international students are expected to study at South Korean universities by 2027. It aims, among other things, to address the decline in the school-age population in the country.

According to local media reports, the number has increased 15 percent within one year and 25 percent from 2022. The ministry attributed the overall improvement to the government’s efforts and the popularity of South Korean culture worldwide.

Among the 208,962 international students, almost 70 percent are pursuing degree programs, and 30 percent are in non-degree programs. Most students, 8,264, are attending Hanyang University.

Some steps South Korea has taken to attract more international students include increasing the number of hours the latter are allowed to work, lowering financial requirements, or permitting them to remain in the country for up to three years and look for job opportunities.

Last year, part-time work hours increased from 20 hours per week to 25 hours weekly for international students in language studies or those pursuing bachelor degrees, while master students are allowed to work 35 hours a week.

Under the same policies integral to the Study Korea 300K Project, all international students can work unlimited hours during weekends or holidays.

Authorities have also lowered the financial requirement for students applying for student visas (D-2) from $20,000 to 20 million won, which is about $15,400. Moreover, starting in 2025, international students can stay in the country for up to three years while looking for employment.

Japan and Taiwan have unveiled similar goals to welcome more international students in the next few years, with Japan’s target set at 400,000 by 2033 and Malaysia’s 320,000 by 2030.