South Korea hits its 300,000 student target two years ahead of schedule
- South Korea’s foreign enrolment surpassed the 300,000-student threshold as of August this year
- Roughly two thirds of international students in the country are engaged in degree study, with the balance in language training
- Vietnam is the number one sender followed by China – the two countries account for nearly two-thirds of South Korea’s foreign enrolment base
In 2023, the South Korean government announced a plan to attract 300,000 international students by 2027: 220,000 in degree programmes and another 80,000 in non-degree study.
The country, as of the midpoint of 2023, was starting from a base of just over 207,000 foreign students, and seeing some room to grow after booking a 15% increase in visiting student numbers between 2022 and 2023. In other words, the goal to grow to 300,000 seemed ambitious but within reach.
That expectation was proven out as of August this year when, according to updated data from the Korea Immigration Service, total foreign enrolment in South Korea reached 305,329. Of those, 225,769 held a D-2 visa, signalling their participation in university degree programs. Another 79,500 were in the country with D-4-1 visas for Korean language training, with a very small number (60) holding the D-4-7 visa for foreign language training.
Those numbers put South Korea almost exactly at its 2027 targets, and about two years ahead of schedule at that. The August 2025 total also represents a year-over-year increase of 16% and overall growth of 47% from the country's mid-2023 base.
Where do students come from?
The bulk of South Korea's foreign enrolment this year is drawn from two key student markets: China and Vietnam. The two countries combined for 193,986 students enrolled in South Korea as of August 2025, or 64% of the country's international student body.
Vietnam is the leading sender this year with 107,807 students; China is close behind with a total of 86,179. Other leading countries of origin include Uzbekistan (18,155), Mongolia (17,870), and Nepal (15,515).
What is driving that growth?
Building around its 300,000 student target, South Korea has implemented a number of strategies to boost its attractiveness to foreign students. Those measures include:
- Expanding the maximum number of hours that students can work during the academic year
- Easing the financial requirements for the D-2 visa
- Expanding the window for graduates to secure employment in South Korea following their studies, with a further easing of post-study work rights planned
- Ramping up recruitment through Korean Education Centers in 22 countries, including in nine key targets such as Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan
- Expanding Korean language training programmes
- Mandating localised recruitment programmes throughout the country, with the participation of business, government, and institutions, and including new scholarship opportunities for visiting students
The growth in the country's enrolment base over the past four years marks South Korea as one of several growing study destinations in Asia, alongside China, Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia.
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