Seoul expands support as foreign student numbers rise to record high

A promotional poster for Seoul Metropolitan Government's "30 Days in Seoul" Program / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

As international student enrollment in the Korean capital climbs to record highs, city officials are expanding a flagship program designed to turn transient scholars into permanent residents.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that applications for the third cohort of its "30 Days in Seoul" initiative will open April 1, a move aimed at smoothing the transition for a foreign student population that now exceeds 82,000.

The expansion follows an aggressive national recruitment drive to counter Korea’s plummeting birth rate, a demographic shift that has brought nearly 300,000 international students to universities nationwide to fill the void left by a shrinking local population. By offering a month of intensive settlement support, the city is betting that stronger early integration will help secure the long-term labor influx its economy needs.

A city official said the program reflects a shift in policy focus from attracting global talent to strategic long-term settlement, aiming to encourage international graduates to remain in Seoul and enter the local workforce rather than return to their home countries after completing their studies.

The program was held twice in 2025, reaching 175 participants from 27 countries and posting a 92.8 percent satisfaction rate, according to the official.

In previous programs, participants received up to 48 hours of instruction in Korean language, history and culture, along with job and interview coaching, alongside activities like professional baseball games, kimchi-making, late-night Owl Bus and SEOULDAL balloon rides, Naksan Fortress Wall tours and picnics along the Han River.

For 2026, the city said it has split the program into two tracks.

A newcomer course pairs incoming students with Korean buddies to support cultural and social adjustment, while an adaptation course focuses on job readiness and long-term settlement skills.

The upcoming session will enroll 125 participants, including 50 in the newcomer course, 20 Korean buddies and 75 in the adaptation course.

The city plans to recruit 300 participants in total this year, marking a sharp increase from 2025, and has broadened eligibility to include two-year college students as well as those at four-year universities.

Applications are accepted through the program’s Instagram account or via QR codes on promotional materials, with candidates selected through a two-step process of document screening and video submissions.

Participants who complete the program receive a certificate issued in the name of the Seoul mayor and may earn up to four hours of credit toward the Ministry of Justice’s social integration program.

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