South Korea is aiming to become a top global study-abroad destination by attracting 300,000 international students by 2027.
As part of this goal, the country will introduce new measures in 2025 to improve post-graduation work and migration options for international students.
Starting next year, international students will be allowed to stay in South Korea for up to three years after graduation to find a job. Currently, they can only stay for six months, with a possible extension of up to two years, VisaGuide.World reports.
As Global Student Living (GSL) reports, other new measures include expanding job opportunities, increasing scholarships through the Global Korea Scholarship program, and fast-tracking permanent residency for STEM graduates.
South Korea Considering to Lower Language Proficiency Requirements for International Students
There is also a proposal to lower language proficiency requirements for international students, though this has sparked concerns about increased costs for universities due to additional student support needs.
In 2023, South Korea made several changes to support international students:
- The part-time work limit for language and undergraduate students was increased from 20 to 25 hours per week. Master’s and doctoral students can work 35 hours per week on weekdays, and all international students can work unlimited hours on weekends and holidays.
- The financial requirement for a D-2 study visa was reduced from US$20,000 to US$15,400. Students applying to universities outside Seoul face an even lower requirement of 16 million won.
As of March 2023, South Korea had 205,170 international students, a 23 percent increase from 2022. The largest groups came from China (40 percent), Vietnam (23 percent), and Uzbekistan.
While Western countries like Australia and Canada are slowing down their international student growth, Asian countries such as Japan, Malaysia, and Taiwan, together with South Korea, are setting higher enrollment targets:
- Japan: 400,000 by 2033
- Malaysia: 250,000 by 2025
- Taiwan: 320,000 by 2030
South Korea’s Strategies to Increase International Student Enrollment
South Korea is making strides to become a top destination for international students, but it faces significant challenges. According to The Korea Herald in 2021, visas and job opportunities for foreign graduates were limited. Of the 1,611 foreign graduates from Korean universities, only 257 found jobs in Korea and 193 left the country.
Despite these obstacles, South Korea is working to increase the number of Indian students studying there. The Times of India reports that Korean language programs are now part of India’s National Education Plan 2020 and there is a growing demand for Korean-proficient Indians in Korea’s technology and automotive sectors. Additionally, several Korean universities have signed agreements with Indian universities to promote academic and student exchanges between the two countries.