The number of foreign students attending Korean universities has nearly doubled over the past five years. The share of those wishing to remain in Korea after graduation and their post-employment salary levels have also risen.
Foreign Student Numbers Surge, Countries of Origin Diversify
According to a report titled "Analysis of the Employment Status and Issues of Foreign Students" by the Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI), the number of foreign students in Korea rose from 98,602 in 2017 to 187,856 in 2023, nearly doubling in five years.
The composition of countries of origin has become more diverse than before. In 2017, students from China (excluding ethnic Koreans) accounted for 48.5 percent, nearly half of the total, but by 2023 that share fell below 30 percent, while the share of students from Vietnam surged to about 40 percent.
Over the same period, the share of students from Uzbekistan also newly emerged at around 6 percent.
By highest degree as of 2023, Vietnamese students made up the largest share of associate degrees at 31.6 percent, while American students topped the doctoral level at 13.7 percent.
An analysis also found that graduates' salary levels are generally rising regardless of education level.
Among associate degree holders in employment, the "2 million to less than 3 million won" range was the most common at 59 percent in 2021, but by 2023 the "3 million won or more" range was the largest at 41.8 percent.
Among doctoral graduates, the share earning 3 million won or more per month rose from 62.5 percent in 2019 to 77.9 percent in 2023.
More Wish to Stay in Korea, With Clear Differences by Country of Origin
Amid this trend, the share of students wishing to remain in Korea after graduation has also risen.
The share hoping to stay in Korea rose from 41.2 percent in 2017 to 63 percent in 2023, while the share wishing to return to their home country fell from 48 percent to 30.4 percent over the same period, a decline of more than 15 percentage points.
However, post-graduation paths showed contrasting trends depending on the country of origin.
Among Chinese students, the share wishing to return home reached 53.5 to 56.7 percent, indicating that more than half intend to return home after completing their studies.
By contrast, in Vietnam, the share wishing to stay in Korea expanded sharply from 64.8 percent in 2017 to 80.3 percent in 2023, and Mongolia likewise jumped from 48.7 percent to 74.7 percent over the same period.
The report noted that "foreign students' overall job satisfaction is high," but "they showed relatively low satisfaction with welfare systems, salaries, and promotion opportunities." It added that "in order to increase students' continuity of employment, it is necessary to improve job satisfaction, focusing on welfare systems, salaries, and promotion opportunities."
