Vietnam replaces China as largest source of int'l students at Korean universities

International students attend interviews at booths run by about 20 companies during the TU Global Job Fair 2025, held at Tongmyong University in Busan, Nov. 6. Yonhap

Korea’s international student population reached a record 300,000 this summer as universities looked overseas to offset domestic shortages. Long dominated by students from China, foreign enrollment is now diversifying, according to recent data presented during the Korean Association of Foreign Student Administrators (KAFSA) winter conference, where officials from nearly 200 universities gathered to discuss shifting trends.

In its place, a growing influx from Southeast Asia is reshaping the landscape, reflecting broader changes in regional economic ties and the expanding reach of Korean soft power.

The most striking increase has come from Vietnam. Since 2017, enrollment from the country has surged, overtaking China this year as the largest source of international students.

According to data from the Ministry of Justice, the number of international students staying in Korea reached a record high of 305,329 as of August.

Although enrollment figures from the Ministry of Education showed 253,000 international students as of April, residency and visa data suggest the government has effectively met its 2027 goal of attracting 300,000 students, nearly two years ahead of schedule.

As of August, Vietnamese students totaled 107,807, compared to 86,179 Chinese students, according to justice ministry data. Uzbekistan ranked third with 18,155 students, followed by Mongolia at 17,870, Nepal at 15,515 and Myanmar at 8,903.

An education ministry official said the rise in Vietnamese enrollment has been driven in part by a surge in students enrolled in Korean language programs. While the ministry does not track the sources of growth on a country-by-country basis, the official said demand for studying in Korea continues to rise across Asia, underscoring the country’s growing appeal as an education destination.

International students wearing traditional clothing pose for a selfie during the Ajou International Day event held at Ajou University in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Nov. 6. Yonhap

Regional trends in international enrollment reveal a widening divide. While Seoul remains home to the largest international student population overall, with 82,911 students, the fastest growth has been recorded outside the capital.

North Chungcheong Province exemplifies this trend, with international student numbers jumping 92.1 percent from a year earlier to 10,537.

The sharp increase has been largely driven by the province’s flagship K-international student initiative, which frames globalization of higher education as a pillar of regional development.

Since April, the provincial government has been piloting a localized student visa program that relaxes financial requirements for international students enrolled in fields tied to key regional industries, such as semiconductors, secondary batteries, bioengineering and cosmetics.

The program also allowed students who meet the minimum requirement of a Level 3 score in the Test of Proficiency in Korean to work up to 30 hours per week, offering greater flexibility than standard student visa restrictions with the aim of improving students’ financial stability while studying.

The economic impact of these initiatives is significant.

Research by the Chungbuk Research Institute estimated that attracting 10,000 international students generates about 212.2 billion won ($145.75 million) a year in spillover effects, underscoring how local governments are increasingly viewing international students not just as learners, but as contributors to regional revitalization.

Despite the overall rise in international student numbers, their academic concentration remains skewed away from science and engineering. STEM majors accounted for just 19 percent of international students.

The imbalance has persisted even as the government rolls out a series of initiatives to draw more international students into science and engineering, alongside expanded support measures targeting STEM fields.

In addition, the number of foreign faculty at Korean universities has declined in contrast to the rise of international student enrollment.

The number of full-time foreign professors fell 2.2 percent from a year earlier to 4,348, making up about 5 percent of all full-time faculty. The figure marks a continuing downward trend. Korea had more than 6,000 foreign full-time faculty members in 2014, but numbers have steadily declined since then.

Foreign faculty ratios are a key measure of internationalization used by global university ranking agencies such as QS, underscoring the need for diversity not only among students but also within the ranks of faculty.