By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter

The government plans to attract 100,000 foreign students to the country by 2010.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said Monday that the number of scholarships available to foreign students will jump to 2,450 in 2010 and 3,000 by 2012, up from 1,500 this year.

Universities will receive a combined $2 million to open more English-only and Korean-language classes. More dormitories will be offered to foreigners as well.

Additionally, foreign students will get help finding work in Korea as rules will be eased for student visa holders.

An online service will be launched to assist foreign students and introduce programs targeting ethnic Korean adoptees from overseas and foreign nationals majoring in Korean studies.

Ministry official Shin Kang-tak said, ``Attracting overseas students has become important not only for education but also the economy and diplomacy.

``If the number of foreign students increases to 100,000, we can earn 160 billion won. Foreigners graduating from Korean universities will also serve as a driving force in this country, which is suffering from a low birth rate.’’

The plan is part of the revised ``Study Korea Project’’ introduced in 2004.

The number of foreign students in Korea has jumped three-fold over the last four years to 55,000 this year.

kswho@koreatimes.co.kr