Seoul expands support for migrant-background youth

International students participate in a taekwondo demonstration at a club fair at Ajou University in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, March 4. Yonhap

As Korea's school-age population shrinks and the number of youth with immigrant backgrounds grows, Seoul will expand career guidance and college admission support for children from multicultural families.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday its Career and College Admission Support Program for Children from Multicultural Families will introduce an Individual Career Pathway system this year. Launched in 2014, the program has reached 3,095 students and parents across 1,129 sessions over the past four years, with a satisfaction score of 4.84 out of 5.

Each year, Seoul selects specialized institutions through a competitive process to provide one-on-one consultations, college entrance seminars and parent academies, offering a two-track support system covering both students and parents from career exploration through application strategies.

Immigrant-background youth are legally defined as people between the ages of 9 and 24 who grew up in multicultural environments due to their own or their parents' immigration experiences. Their numbers have grown from roughly 68,000 in 2014 to around 200,000 in 2025, while Korea's school-age population of children ages 6 to 21 has fallen from 7.37 million in 2016 to 6.97 million last year.

The demographic shift has made supporting immigrant-background youth a policy priority, the city said, adding that the program will be refined this year into a personalized system analyzing each student's academic history, language level and career goals. Seoul aims to serve more than 700 participants this year, with expanded counseling for middle schoolers and stronger support for late-arrival and students who are still unsure of their academic and career plans.

Further information is available at mcfamily.or.kr and global.seoul.go.kr. Applications can be made through the Korea Institute for Career & Admission Information via email at admin@ceckorea.org or by phone at 02-701-6716.

“Immigrant-background students are an important future human resource for our society, and it is crucial to help them fully realize their potential,” said Park Eun-sook, head of the city's multicultural affairs division. “Seoul will continue to strengthen customized career and college support to narrow the education gap and ensure equal access to educational opportunities.”