Korea ranks 10th in OECD for int'l student growth
The number of international students enrolled in South Korean universities has significantly increased, placing South Korea 10th among OECD member countries in terms of growth in foreign student numbers, according to a recent report by the Science Ministry and the Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning. OECD data shows total international student enrollment in member countries rose from 3 million in 2014 to over 4.6 million in 2022.
The organization explained that this surge was partly attributed to the country's 'Study Korea 300K Project,' which aims to attract 300,000 foreign students and turn South Korea into a global education hub. The project kicked off in 2023.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the number of international students hosted by OECD countries rose by 18 percent between 2018 and 2022, according to the report.
This figure, however, was lower than the rise of over 30 percent seen between 2014 and 2018.
But the organization explained that the universities' ability to adapt to new challenges, diverse policies implemented during and after the pandemic to support international students, like flexible visa regulations and extended work opportunities, led to a rise in global student mobility in general.
Only five countries -- Australia, Denmark, Italy, New Zealand and the United States -- saw a fall in the number of international students they hosted between 2018 and 2022 due to the migration, health restrictions and more restrictive student visa policies applied during the COVID-19, according to the OECD.
Meanwhile, the number of Korean nationals studying abroad has decreased.
In 2018, there were 96,603 Korean students who studied overseas.
But the number fell to 82,384 in 2022, causing South Korea to be moved from fifth to eighth place on another OECD list of the countries with the highest number of students studying abroad.
The organization revealed that China and India remained the two biggest sources of overseas students, together accounting for around 30 percent of the total number of foreign students enrolled in OECD countries in both 2018 and 2022.
sj_lee@heraldcorp.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
44 minutes ago
- Korea Herald
Working in Korea as a foreigner: Must-know laws and tips
Foreign workers are entitled to the same rights as locals in principle, but there are exceptions and other matters to be mindful of Traveling to a foreign country can be taxing, from adjusting to a different language and culture to navigating unfamiliar social norms. But getting a job there and working under completely different laws, regulations and workplace customs can be even more daunting. Under Korean labor law, foreign nationals with legitimate employment contracts are, in principle, entitled to the same rights as Korean workers. However, the reality can vary significantly, depending on your field and the bosses you work for. As in all countries, some employers may exploit gaps in legal knowledge, taking advantage of foreign workers who are unfamiliar with local labor laws and protections. Legal status of foreign workers and insurance policies If you are a law-abiding individual with a valid work visa, your rights as a non-Korean employee are primarily governed by the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers and the Labor Standards Act. However, note that the Labor Standards Act — which forms the foundation of labor protections in Korea — is not fully applicable to businesses with fewer than five permanent employees, as outlined in Article 10. Foreign worker contracts should be in the form of a standard employment contract as prescribed in a ministerial decree by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Employers can apply for a certificate of visa assurance on behalf of a foreign employee. Like Korean employees who have worked continuously for at least a year, foreign workers are entitled to severance pay, even if they are here illegally. Some bosses may claim that they cannot afford to pay severance, but this should not occur. Under Article 13 of the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers, employers are required to subscribe to 'departure guarantee insurance," a system that ensures that severance pay is set aside in advance for foreign workers who have to leave the country. Employers are required by law to enroll their employees in insurance programs as "employment-provided policyholders." Industrial accident compensation insurance is mandated for all workers, and foreigners staying in this country for at least six months -- a revision in effect since April 2024 -- must be enrolled in national health insurance. Subscriptions to unemployment insurance and the national pension program apply differently to each worker, depending on the type of visa they hold. At the very least, the law clearly stipulates that foreign employees in Korea are to be provided some form of social safety net. What about illegal immigrants? In the 2021 smash hit "Squid Game," the Pakistani character Ali Abdul had an employer who refused to pay him six months of wages and did not compensate him for injuries sustained at his workplace, taking advantage of the fact that he was an illegal immigrant. The troubles faced by the fan-favorite character sparked concerns about racial discrimination, and left many wondering what would happen to the real-life equivalents of Ali. Ali should not have been hired in the first place, according to the Immigration Act, and his family would likely be deported by the authorities. But a 1995 ruling by the Supreme Court stated that an employment contract itself cannot be nullified just because the employee is not legally allowed to stay in Korea. This means an illegal immigrant hired by a company, to which the Industrial Accident Compensation Act applies, should have been eligible to receive the benefits specified by the law. There are few exceptions, but most employers are required to subscribe to the insurance program run by the state. Returning to the story of Ali, if he was planning to take his wife and baby back to Pakistan anyway, he probably should have reported his evil boss to the Ministry of Employment and Labor or a regional labor office under the ministry. Considering that his workplace was a sizeable factory, he would have been able to receive his wages and hospital fees, although his employment would likely have been terminated and his family deported. If Ali had been working continuously for at least a year at the factory, his status as an illegal immigrant should not stop him from getting severance pay, although he would first be held accountable for crushing the wicked man's fingers. How to report unpaid wages Assuming that Ali kept his cool and had a Korean friend help him, he would have visited the Labor Ministry or the ministry's online petition page ( to file a complaint. This would lead to the ministry interviewing both parties -- the worker and the employer -- and investigating the case over the course of 25 days. The probe can be extended twice, but the petitioner must not fail to appear for a summons more than once. If that happens, the ministry will consider the petitioner unwilling to pursue the case and close it. If the complaint is found to be valid, the ministry may order the employer to rectify the matter and pay the unpaid wages. Failure to comply can result in criminal penalties of up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won ($21,800). The worker may also file a civil lawsuit, but must do so within two years of leaving the job. Unpaid wages are a serious issue for foreign workers. Labor Ministry data in September last year showed that unpaid wages between January and July 2024 totaled 69.9 billion won, affecting 14,913 foreign workers across 4,124 companies. Exceptions In a recent workplace bullying case involving the death of former MBC weathercaster Oh Yoanna, the Ministry of Employment and Labor concluded that she had been bullied by her colleagues but that this did not legally constitute workplace harassment because she was not recognized as an "employee" under the Labor Standards Act. This was because the deceased was legally classified as a freelancer, a status which the ministry said allowed her to sign deals with other companies and did not require her to carry out certain tasks -- such as administrative work and night shifts -- that are conventionally required by employees of the broadcaster. It also said weathercasters are not under strict supervision, and are in principle given free rein in carrying out their work. This led to a controversy stemming from the disparity between reality and theory -- as Oh had worked under the direct supervision of an MBC employee and had been in the exclusive employment of the company -- but what it clearly shows is that there are limits to the legal protection received by those working in Korea. As mentioned above, not every aspect of labor law applies to micro-sized businesses with fewer than five permanent employees. The Labor Standards Act does not apply to those hired for housekeeping, either. Article 61 of the same act states that the clauses pertaining to working hours, leave and holidays do not apply to those in fields like agriculture, forestry, animal breeding, certain areas of the livestock industry, and workers engaged in surveillance or intermittent jobs approved by the Labor Ministry. Article 3 of the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers also states that it does not apply to "any seafarer who works on a ship governed by the Seafarers' Act but who does not have the nationality of the Republic of Korea, or to any owner of a ship who employs or intends to employ such seafarer." As the exact legal applications related to foreign workers are too numerous to cover in a single article, one is advised to search the English translations provided on the website Statutes of the Republic of Korea ( operated by the Korea Legislation Research Institute, a state-run think tank. Those who can read Korean should also consult the Korean Law Information Center.
Korea Herald
an hour ago
- Korea Herald
Seoul Food 2025 blends tech, taste and trade
South Korea's largest food industry showcase, Seoul Food 2025, opened Tuesday at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. The four-day event features a record-breaking 1,639 companies from 45 countries and is now recognized as one of Asia's top four food exhibitions, alongside shows in Shanghai, Bangkok and Tokyo. Global interest in Korean food, or K-Food, is driving a sharp rise in export activity this year. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, export consultations at the event are expected to reach $250 million, up 25 percent from 2024. The number of foreign buyers attending has also climbed by 20 percent to 300 companies, with strong representation from Southeast Asia and the United States. The event also features livestreamed promotions and influencer campaigns aimed at overseas consumers, including buyers from China, Vietnam and Japan. Running alongside the main exhibition is a conference exploring future food technologies, such as plant-based proteins, low-sugar products and AI-powered food production.
Korea Herald
2 hours ago
- Korea Herald
SK Shieldus names finance veteran as new CEO
Korean security service company SK Shieldus announced Tuesday the appointment of Min Ki-sik as its new CEO-designate, with final confirmation pending board approval later this month. Min brings over 30 years of experience in the financial sector, having held leadership roles including CEO of Prudential Life Insurance and DGB Life Insurance. In 2023, he also served as vice chairman of KB Life Insurance, where he led the company's expansion into Southeast Asian markets such as Indonesia and Vietnam. SK Shieldus said Min is recognized for his strategic insight and proven leadership. He is expected to play a key role in integrating the company's core businesses — including physical security, cybersecurity and convergence security — while maximizing cooperation across its operations. 'This is a pivotal moment that calls for strong leadership to drive sustainable growth in an increasingly complex global landscape,' an SK Shieldus official said. 'We believe Min's experience and strategic vision will guide the company into its next phase of transformation.' In 2024, SK Shieldus posted an annual revenue exceeding 2 trillion won ($738 million), fueled by mid- to long-term security initiatives across the residential, industrial and public sectors.
