South Korea sees 15% surge in international students

Experts credit country's ambitious 300K project and K-Pop culture for the rise, as well as growing demand for Indian graduates who speak Korean

- Simple Vishwakarma

The number of international students in South Korea has surged by 15% this year, with a total of 208,962 students now enrolled in the country. This increase comes as part of South Korea's ambitious 300k project that aims to attract 300,000 international students to the country by 2027 to position the country among the top 10 study destinations worldwide, according to the Ministry of Education (MoE), South Korea.

Since 2022, there has been a 25% rise in international student enrollment in South Korea. The Country's Minister of Education, Lee Ju-ho, told a local newspaper, "There are around 210,000 international students in Korea, which is a 25% increase compared to 2022 before we implemented the Study Korea 300K Project."

Overall 210,000 international students are enrolled in Korean universities. Out of the total international students who enrolled in 2024, 30% opted for non-degree programs, while the remaining 70% are pursuing degree programs, according to local media reports. Kyuseok (KS) Kim, a project manager at an international education company, Uway, attributes the surge in Indian enrollment to several factors. "Strategic enhancements such as the establishment of Korean Education Centres across several locations, including India, underlines South Korea's commitment to attracting Indian students," Kim explained to The Free Press Journal.