South Korea Faces Challenge of Integrating and Retaining International Students

South Korea has experienced a significant surge in international student numbers over the last several years. As the country continues to grow its foreign student base, attention is now being given to programme and service design to help visiting students integrate into Korean society and the economy.

According to the latest figures from the Korean Immigration Service, the number of international students in South Korea reached 314,400 as of February 2026. This represents a significant increase from the country's goal of hosting 300,000 foreign students by 2027, which was achieved two years early.

The majority of international students in South Korea are enrolled in higher education institutions, with 76% (238,905 students) pursuing their studies in this sector. The balance of students (roughly 75,500) are enrolled in Korean-language studies.

## New Phase of Internationalisation

South Korea's universities are entering a new phase of internationalisation, with several institutions moving beyond offering English-medium tracks and establishing entire departments and majors exclusively for international students. This shift departs from the traditional logic of integration, where international students were expected to enter existing programmes and adapt to institutional norms.

Instead, programmes designed exclusively for international students introduce structured differentiation within the university itself. Admissions criteria, curricular content, pedagogical expectations, and career pathways may all diverge.

## Quality Controls and Language Proficiency

The country's Ministry of Education is introducing new quality controls to ensure that universities are properly screening international students. In the near term, the ministry plans to impose sanctions on universities that fail to meet these standards. Over the longer term, the ministry aims to revamp its internationalisation certification program to better reflect universities' actual capabilities.

A particular area of concern is the Korean-language proficiency of visiting students and how that relates to student retention and success. The Ministry of Education recommends at least a Level 3 on the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) for foreign students seeking admission to a Korean university. However, a report by the Korean Council for University Education found that just over half of the international students currently in Korea fall below this language proficiency benchmark.

## Plans to Stay

Despite these challenges, a recent study from the Korean Educational Development Institute found that nearly two-thirds (63%) of international students in Korea said that they wanted to stay in the country after graduation. Of those planning to stay on, 35% were hoping to find a job in Korea, while another 27% wanted to continue their studies.

The study also found that graduates of two- or three-year colleges in Korea earned at least 3 million won per month (US$2,110) as of 2023, with roughly a third of bachelor's degree holders and 44% of master's programme graduates also earning above this threshold as of 2023.

A separate study from the Ministry of Data and Statistics found that as of May 2025, roughly 56,000 foreign students in Korea were also working during their studies. Nearly all (83%) worked in part-time jobs in the retail, accommodation, or food services sectors, with most earning less than 2 million won per month (US$1,406).

| Degree | Number of Students | Earnings Threshold | | --- | --- | --- | | Bachelor's | 35% | 3 million won per month | | Master's | 44% | 3 million won per month | | Two- or three-year college | 42% | 3 million won per month |

| Sector | Number of Students | Earnings Threshold | | --- | --- | --- | | Retail | 45% | Less than 2 million won per month | | Accommodation | 20% | Less than 2 million won per month | | Food services | 18% | Less than 2 million won per month |