Foreign Students in Korea Near 50,000
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
The number of foreign students in Korea grew almost three times to nearly 50,000 this year from 16,800 in 2004, with roughly 90 percent of them coming from Asian countries. The rise reflects increasing exchange programs and growing interest in Korean culture following the recent ``Korean wave.''
As of April 1st, a total of 49,270 foreign students were enrolled at 432 community colleges, universities and graduate schools nationwide, according to education ministry's data reported to Rep. Chung Do-oun of the ruling Grand National Party, Wednesday.
The number of incoming foreign students has shown a steady increase every year. In 2004, 16,832 foreign students came here to study. In 2006 it went up to 32,557 after surpassing 20,000 for the first time in 2005.
By region of origin, 92.6 percent or 45,622 are Asian, followed by 3.4 percent (1,692) from North America and 2.6 percent (1,283) from Europe.
Among the Asians, Chinese students account for the majority, with 68.3 percent (33,650); followed by Japanese with 3,854 (7.8%); Vietnamese, 2,242 (4.6%); and Mongolian, 1,309 (2.7%).
Ewha Womens University enrolled the largest number of foreign students at 2,113; followed by Yonsei University with 1,898; Kyung Hee University, 1,491; Korea University, 1,358; and Seoul National University, 1,347.
``A brisk student exchange program is one of key reasons behind the increase in foreign students,'' said Cho Ji-young, a public relations officer at Ewha Womens University.
Many universities run a 1:1 mentoring program in association with fraternities to help foreign students adapt themselves to the Korean academic system.