Statistics | WeBring Korea Study Hub

Underwood Hall and campus at Yonsei University — Photo: Striker9498 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

International Student Overview

The number of international students in Korea has been steadily rising. As of 2024 it surpassed 210,000, an all-time high. K-culture, the global standing of Korean companies, and excellent educational infrastructure are the main drivers.

Trend in International Student Numbers by Year

Year	Total	Degree programs	Language training
2019	160,165	100,215	59,950
2020	153,695	113,003	40,692
2021	152,281	120,018	32,263
2022	166,892	131,049	35,843
2023	181,842	141,610	40,232
2024	211,026	165,866	45,160

Trend Analysis

2020-2021: temporary decline due to COVID-19
2022 onward: recovery, shifting to a sharp increase
Rising share of degree programs: a trend of moving from language training to degree programs
Impact of K-culture: surging demand for Korean learning driven by the popularity of Hallyu content

By Degree Program (2024)

Program	Number	Share
Associate degree	15,233	9.2%
Bachelor's	108,547	65.4%
Master's	29,869	18.0%
Doctorate	12,217	7.4%

Bachelor's programs make up the largest share at about 65% of the total. Graduate students (master's plus doctorate) also account for a substantial portion at about 25%.

International Students by Nationality

International students in Korea are mainly from Asian countries, with China and Vietnam together accounting for about 60% of the total. Recently, students from Central Asian and South Asian countries have been increasing rapidly.

Top 10 Countries (2024)

Rank	Country	Number	Share
1	China	72,459	34.3%
2	Vietnam	57,361	27.2%
3	Uzbekistan	17,543	8.3%
4	Mongolia	9,127	4.3%
5	Japan	5,891	2.8%
6	Nepal	5,234	2.5%
7	United States	4,521	2.1%
8	Indonesia	4,118	2.0%
9	Taiwan	3,456	1.6%
10	India	2,987	1.4%

Fast-Growing Countries

Uzbekistan: more than tripled over the past 5 years
Mongolia: steadily rising thanks to the popularity of Korean culture
Nepal: increasing study for employment purposes
Indonesia: surging under the influence of K-POP and K-dramas

Study Characteristics by Country

China: high share in degree programs, preference for metropolitan-area universities, many aiming for employment linkage
Vietnam: high share in language training, provincial universities also popular, many combining part-time work
Uzbekistan: high share of government scholarship students, preference for STEM majors
Mongolia: many entering medical and education fields, strong intention for long-term stay

Distribution of International Students by Region

About 58% of international students are concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area (Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon). However, thanks to the scholarship benefits and lower living costs at provincial universities, preference for non-metropolitan areas has also been rising recently.

Distribution by Province/City (2024)

Region	Number	Share
Seoul	78,432	37.2%
Gyeonggi	32,156	15.2%
Busan	14,823	7.0%
Daejeon/Chungcheong	21,345	10.1%
Daegu/Gyeongbuk	18,567	8.8%
Gwangju/Jeolla	12,234	5.8%
Incheon	11,892	5.6%
Other	21,577	10.2%

Characteristics by Region

Seoul: concentration of prestigious universities, many job opportunities, high living costs (rent 500,000-800,000 KRW/month)
Gyeonggi: good access to Seoul, relatively affordable, many emerging universities
Busan: strong in marine/tourism fields, living costs 30% cheaper than Seoul
Daejeon/Chungcheong: specialized in science and technology (KAIST, Chungnam National University, etc.)
Daegu/Gyeongbuk: strong in textiles/fashion and medical fields
Gwangju/Jeolla: culture and arts, agriculture, many scholarship benefits

University Tuition Overview

Tuition at Korean universities is relatively affordable compared with universities in English-speaking countries such as the US and UK. There are also various scholarship programs for international students, so the actual burden can be even lower.

Average Tuition (Annual, 2024)

Type	Humanities & Social Sciences	Natural Sciences	Engineering	Arts & Physical Education
National/public universities	4,100,000 KRW	5,100,000 KRW	5,300,000 KRW	5,500,000 KRW
Private universities	6,800,000 KRW	8,100,000 KRW	8,400,000 KRW	8,900,000 KRW

Tuition Comparison Across Major Countries (Annual, Bachelor's)

Korea: about 4,000,000-9,000,000 KRW (about $3,000-$7,000)
United States: about $20,000-$50,000 (state universities)
United Kingdom: about £9,250-£40,000
Australia: about AUD 20,000-$45,000
Japan: about ¥500,000-1,500,000

Actual Tuition Burden

With a scholarship, the actual burden is greatly reduced. On average, students receive a 30-50% reduction, and top performers can even get a 100% full-tuition scholarship.

Example: private-university humanities program 6,800,000 KRW → TOPIK Level 5 scholarship 50% = actual payment 3,400,000 KRW/year

Employment Rate of International Students

A significant number of foreigners who complete their studies in Korea wish to find work here. However, the actual employment rate is about 30-35%, so systematic preparation is needed.

Post-Graduation Employment Status

Item	Figure
Share staying in Korea after graduation	About 35%
Share converting to a work visa (E-7)	About 18%
Share applying for a job-seeking visa (D-10)	About 25%
Average time to find a job	About 4-8 months
Main employment fields	IT, trade, tourism, manufacturing

Share by Employment Field (Based on E-7 Visa)

IT/SW development: 32%
Trade/marketing: 24%
Manufacturing: 18%
Interpretation-translation/education: 12%
Tourism/service: 8%
Other: 6%

Average Starting Salary of Former International Students

Large corporations: 40,000,000-55,000,000 KRW
Mid-sized companies: 32,000,000-40,000,000 KRW
Small and medium enterprises: 28,000,000-35,000,000 KRW
Startups: 30,000,000-45,000,000 KRW (performance pay separate)

Conditions That Favor Employment

TOPIK Level 5 or above (large corporations prefer Level 6)
STEM major (IT, engineering, data science, etc.)
Domestic internship experience (3 months or more)
Holding relevant certifications (national technical qualifications preferred)
A master's degree or higher from a Korean university

TOPIK Test-Taking Status

The number of people taking the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) is surging every year. The worldwide popularity of K-culture and rising demand for study and employment in Korea are the main causes.

Number of Test-Takers by Year

Year	Domestic	Overseas	Total
2020	98,765	187,432	286,197
2021	112,543	203,876	316,419
2022	134,567	245,123	379,690
2023	156,789	289,456	446,245

Pass Distribution by Level (as of 2023)

Level 1: 8%
Level 2: 15%
Level 3: 22%
Level 4: 26%
Level 5: 18%
Level 6: 11%

Average Pass Rate

TOPIK I (Levels 1-2): about 70%
TOPIK II (Levels 3-6): about 55%

Top 5 Countries by Number of Test-Takers

1st: China (about 35%)
2nd: Vietnam (about 18%)
3rd: Japan (about 12%)
4th: Indonesia (about 6%)
5th: Thailand (about 4%)

Study Satisfaction

Surveys of satisfaction with studying in Korea show overall high satisfaction. The safety, transportation, and cultural-experience categories in particular received high ratings.

Overall Satisfaction

4.3 / 5.0

About 85% of respondents answered "satisfied" or "very satisfied"

Satisfaction by Category

Factor	Satisfaction
Safety	4.5 / 5.0
Transportation convenience	4.4 / 5.0
Cultural experience	4.4 / 5.0
Living infrastructure	4.3 / 5.0
Education quality	4.2 / 5.0
Korean-learning environment	4.1 / 5.0
Employment linkage	3.6 / 5.0
Housing-cost burden	3.2 / 5.0

Strengths of Studying in Korea

World-class public safety (safe even at night)
Convenient public transportation (subway and bus network)
Fast internet, advanced IT infrastructure
Cultural experience in the birthplace of K-culture
24-hour amenities (convenience stores, cafes, delivery)
Affordable medical costs (with health insurance)

Areas for Improvement

Housing-cost burden (especially in the Seoul area)
Strengthening employment-linkage programs
Expanding administrative services for foreigners
Expanding medical interpretation services
Easing part-time work-hour limits

Willingness to Recommend

78%

78% of respondents said they "would recommend studying in Korea to others"

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. Why does the number of international students in Korea keep rising?

A. The main factors are the worldwide popularity of Hallyu such as K-pop and K-dramas, relatively affordable tuition, a safe living environment, and a high standard of education. The rising global standing of Korean companies has also increased study aimed at employment linkage.

Q. Why is the employment rate of international students low?

A. The main causes are visa-issuance requirements (company size, job restrictions), insufficient Korean business-communication ability, and insufficient understanding of the Korean hiring process. However, the employment rate for students who prepare systematically is much higher.

Q. Which region is best to study in?

A. It depends on your goal. If you want many job opportunities, the Seoul metropolitan area is recommended; if you want to save on costs, a provincial area; and if you are interested in a specific field (science and technology, marine studies, etc.), a region specialized in that field.

Q. Is it hard for international students to get scholarships?

A. It depends on competition, but most universities offer a 30-50% tuition-reduction scholarship. Obtaining advanced TOPIK, maintaining good grades, and choosing a provincial university all raise your chances of securing a scholarship.

Q. Where does this statistical data come from?

A. It is based on materials released by government and public institutions, including the Ministry of Education, the Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI), the National Institute for International Education (NIIED), and the official Study in Korea site. Check the respective institutions' websites for the latest data.