Over the past decade, the number of international students in South Korea has been steadily increasing. The Korean government is actively promoting the Study Korea 300K Project, aiming to attract 300,000 foreign students by 2027.

Fueled by the global popularity of K-POP, K-Dramas, and Korean culture, interest in studying in Korea continues to rise. Regional universities are also striving to improve freshman enrollment rates by actively recruiting international students.

When we look at the numbers by nationality, China and Vietnam stand out with the highest student populations. In particular, the growth rate of Vietnamese students has been significantly higher than that of other countries.

For D-2 (degree program) visas, China ranks first with 72,451 students, followed by Vietnam with 46,052 students. For D-4 (language training) visas, Vietnam ranks first with 52,455 students, while China is second with only 6,048 students, a gap of more than 8 times. This difference can be attributed to Vietnam's positive perception of Korea and a stronger interest in learning the Korean language.

Looking forward, as visa policies improve and more support services for living and settling in Korea are introduced, the number of international students in Korea is expected to continue growing. If post-graduation career and employment pathways also become easier, studying in Korea will become even more attractive. TalentLink is currently preparing various services to improve the employment outcomes of international students in Korea. We look forward to your interest and support!

[Related Information]

> Introduction to D-2, D-4 Visas
> Introduction to Region-Specific D-2 Visa