Korea launches online hub to recruit more international students

The Ministry of Education building at Government Complex Sejong in Sejong City / Korea Times file

The Ministry of Education, in partnership with the National Institute for International Education, launched a year-round online promotion hub and a series of live admissions webinars as part of a broader effort to widen access to information for students considering study in Korea.

They said the new promotion hub is available through an online portal, a government-run website established in 2012 for international students.

The portal provides information on universities, scholarships, visas and employment in one place, while supporting education fairs, online applications and scholarship notices. It draws about 12 million visits annually.

Officials said the promotion hub, which opened Wednesday, replaces last year’s short-term online fairs with a permanent format, allowing prospective students to access information at any time. Universities and local governments can also maintain continuous outreach to potential applicants.

The hub is organized into four sections: Korean language training programs offered by university-affiliated institutes; English-track degree programs; junior college programs focused on vocational education; and local government initiatives, including student support policies and region-specific visa programs.

Separately, the institute is hosting a webinar-based admission fair through Sunday, featuring 40 universities and real-time counseling sessions. About 70,000 participants joined similar events last year.

The sessions began with language training programs and employment-linked programs last week and degree program briefings this week.

Participants can also use university-specific Q&A boards and live chat rooms, while recorded sessions will be available for those unable to attend in real time.

Minister of Education Choi Kyo-jin said the government will continue to expand support across the full cycle of international education, from recruitment to study, employment and long-term settlement.

Han Sang-shin, president of the institute, said efforts will continue to support universities and local governments in attracting international students and to strengthen Korea’s position as a global study destination.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.