South Korean international student population trends

The number of foreign students and trainees in South Korea has seen rapid growth, surpassing 500,000 for the first time last year. This figure represents a more than sixfold increase from 2021, when the number was 80,084 during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to data from the Korea Tourism Organization, these arrivals accounted for 2.7 percent of the 18.94 million foreign visitors to the country, with 83.5 percent of all visitors traveling for tourism.

Specific data from the ‘2026 Basic Education Statistics’ indicates that the number of foreign students enrolled in higher education institutions reached 307,464, a 21.3% increase from the previous year. Within this group, degree-seeking students grew by 24.6%, while non-degree students increased by 13.5%. For the first time, students from Vietnam have become the largest group of international students, totaling 96,834 and accounting for 31.5% of the total, surpassing students from China (78,890). Other significant groups include students from Uzbekistan, Nepal, and Mongolia.

Representative Jin Sun-mee attributed the surge to the global popularity of K-pop and K-dramas, noting that Korean cultural content is driving interest in language studies and formal degree programs. Approximately 46.3 percent of these international arrivals were in the 20–30 age demographic.

This growth occurs as domestic student numbers in kindergarten through high school have decreased by nearly 190,000 due to low birth rates, leading to the closure of 208 kindergartens. In response, policy groups are advocating for visa reforms to lower barriers for job-seeking and employment, shifting the focus toward long-term settlement and helping graduates integrate into local industries.