Korean, Chinese Schools to Boost Student Exchanges
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
South Korea and China have signed a memorandum of understanding, allowing students to get their academic records cross-acknowledged.
Under the pact, Chinese students coming to Korea for university can get their high school and middle school records acknowledged. In the past, such transfer was impossible for students from certain regions because of differences in school year systems to that of Korea's. As a result, some students had to take extra years in a Korean school before they were qualified to take the college entrance examination here.
Also, transfers between university students will become easier. Previously, schools in sisterhood relations were the only options students had, but soon there will be more choices available, the ministry said. The rule will also be adopted by graduate schools and higher education institutes.
As a result, student transfers will become easier, with more Chinese students expected to visit Korea to study, an education ministry official said. Chinese students made up 68.3 percent of the 49,268 foreign students studying here in April 2007.
Criminal Exchanges
Also, the transferring of inmates between the two countries will now be possible. Korean criminals serving their terms in China can now finish their sentences in Korea and vice versa. Only those who have committed a crime acknowledged by both countries and with less than one year to serve will be eligible.
Through the system, 193 Korean inmates in China and 633 Chinese inmates in Korea will be transferred to their respective countries. It is possible their terms will be reduced upon their return.
``We hope the human rights of Korean prisoners in China will improve because of this,'' a justice ministry official said.
However, some observers point to problems with the agreement. A revised law in minor education last year already guaranteed academic records of Korean students abroad, therefore predicting Korean students will benefit little from the changes.
Also, a Korean inmate's criminal record will be identifiable should they finish their term here while it would leave no trace in Korea if they finished it in China. As a result, many Korean prisoners may not be willing to come to Korea as expected, analysts said.