50 Chinese students transfer to Korean high schools
By Kim Bo-eun
Fifty students from China have transferred to high schools in Seoul, the schools confirmed Thursday.
This is the first time for such a large number of foreign students to enroll in schools here.
Among the students who majored in Korean at New Bridge Foreign Language School in Beijing, 14 will attend Myungduk Foreign Language High School, while five will go to Daewon Foreign Language High School, 15 to Mirim Girls’ High School and 16 to Wooshin High School starting in September.
The students decided to come to Korea due to heightened interest in hallyu, or Korean popular culture, as well as a means to enter Korean and foreign universities, according to officials at the schools.
“In China there is a lot of interest in hallyu, and many students wish to enter Korean universities,” said a school official at Mirim Girls’ High School. “A large number of Chinese students to to Korean universities but have trouble keeping up with classes as they lack proficiency in Korean. Attending high schools here will help solve this problem.”
An official at Myungduk said, “Besides their interest in Korean popular culture, some may also come to Korean high schools as a means to enter Korean or other universities abroad.”
Although the transferring students studied Korean in Beijing as a foreign language, they will be provided with language classes after school to help them keep up with the curriculum.
According to current regulations, the number of foreign students at regular high schools should not exceed 2 percent of the total number of students. Foreign language high schools in Seoul are allowed 20 foreign students in addition to regular enrollments.
It is the first time for the four schools to accept that many foreign students, but they welcome the idea. “We are favorable with foreign students transferring to our schools,” said the Mirim school official. “The 2 percent quota, however, is too small ― it should be increased so that more students can come.”