The number of foreign students studying in South Korea has reached a record high, surpassing 310,000, as per government data. Specifically, the Korea Immigration Service reported a total of 314,397 foreign students in February, marking a significant milestone. Among these students, 238,905 were enrolled in universities, while others were pursuing Korean or other language training programs.
Over the past five years, the foreign student population in South Korea has doubled, rising from 153,361 in 2020 to over 300,000 by August last year. Notably, the total number of foreign nationals in South Korea has also increased, reaching 2.71 million, with foreign students showing a faster growth rate of 15% compared to the previous year.
By nationality, Vietnamese students constituted the largest group at 115,131, followed by Chinese students at 78,529, Uzbek students at 20,609, and Mongolian students at 18,992. Moreover, recent government data revealed that the number of foreign nationals residing in South Korea approached 1.7 million as of May last year, with various categories represented.
The data indicated that overseas Koreans with foreign nationalities accounted for a significant portion, followed by non-professional employment visa holders, international students, and permanent residents. Among foreign nationals, ethnic Koreans with Chinese nationality comprised the largest segment, with Vietnamese nationals following closely. Additionally, a majority of foreign nationals were employed, with some expressing challenges related to income and financial difficulties.
