International Student Population in South Korea Reaches 307,000; Admissions Policy Shifts Focus to Quality
South Korea had 307,464 international students in 2026, reaching its 300,000 target a year early. Vietnamese students now outnumber Chinese students, though Chinese students still lead among degree-seeking students. On September 8, the Ministry of Education released a new strategy that shifts the focus from expanding enrollment to quality: regulating agencies, verifying credentials, restricting enrollment at weak institutions and gradually raising the share of students who meet language requirements.
The number of international students in South Korea surpassed 300,000 in 2026. The Ministry of Education subsequently announced a shift in international student policy, moving the focus from "how many to recruit" to "how to educate them well." For Chinese families planning to study in South Korea, this means two things: choosing universities and agencies requires a greater emphasis on official channels, and language proficiency requirements will gradually increase.
307,000: A Year Ahead of Schedule
On August 27, 2026, the Ministry of Education released the "2026 Basic Statistics of Education." The data shows that in 2026, there were 307,464 international students in South Korea, an increase of 54,030 from the previous year, representing a 21.3% growth.
In July 2023, South Korea launched the "Study Korea 300K" project, aiming to recruit 300,000 international students by 2027. Based on the latest data, this goal has been achieved a year ahead of schedule. The growth in recent years is as follows:
| Year | International Students in South Korea |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 181,842 |
| 2024 | 208,962 |
| 2025 | 253,434 |
| 2026 | 307,464 |
Vietnam Surpasses China in Total Numbers, but China Remains First in Degree-Seeking Students
By nationality, the top five countries with the most students in 2026 are:
| Country | Number of Students | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | 96,834 | 31.5% |
| China | 78,890 | 25.7% |
| Uzbekistan | 20,876 | 6.8% |
| Nepal | 20,118 | 6.5% |
| Mongolia | 17,189 | 5.6% |
In 2025, there were 76,541 Chinese students, accounting for 30.2% and ranking first. For all the years listed in the statistics—2010, 2015, and 2020 to 2025—Chinese students ranked first; in 2010, their share reached as high as 71.0%. In 2026, the number of Chinese students continued to grow, but Vietnamese students grew even faster, increasing by 21,690 in a single year to take the top spot.
The picture changes when looking only at degree-seeking students. In 2026, there were 223,191 degree-seeking students in total, of which 70,856 were Chinese students, accounting for 31.7% and still ranking first; Vietnamese students numbered 58,007, accounting for 26.0%. There were 84,273 non-degree students, such as those in language training programs, of which Vietnamese students made up 46.1%.
In other words, Chinese students going to South Korea primarily pursue bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees; a significant portion of the growth in Vietnamese students comes from language training programs.
New Strategy: Shifting from Expansion to Quality
On September 8, 2026, the Ministry of Education released the "Innovation Strategy for Fostering International Students." The main contents include the following:
1. Regulating Admissions Agencies
A survey cited by the Ministry of Education shows that among 8,300 international students, 17.8% chose their universities primarily based on recommendations from admissions agencies. Meanwhile, issues such as false advertising by some agencies and applicants using fake academic credentials are also emerging. In response:
- The Ministry of Education will release the "Standard Agreement between Universities and Admissions Agencies" in the second half of 2026, requiring universities to take responsibility for the recruitment process of the agencies they work with.
- Necessary clauses for student protection will become mandatory requirements in the future through regulatory amendments.
2. Strict Verification of Academic Credentials
- The Ministry of Education will issue guidelines for verifying foreign academic credentials to universities and provide consulting services to help schools filter out fake credentials during admission and transfer processes.
- The Study in Korea comprehensive system (studyinkorea.go.kr) will provide more university information in local languages, as well as a one-stop service for online application and application fee payment, making it easier for students to apply directly through official channels.
3. Restricting Enrollment for Universities Failing to Meet Operational Standards
South Korea uses the "Certification System for Internationalization Capability" to evaluate universities' management of international students, with evaluation results linked to visa screening. The new strategy tightens the rules:
- Schools that fail the institutional evaluation certification, or private schools rated as "Universities in Management Crisis" for two consecutive years, will be directly placed in the lowest tier of the certification system, restricting them from enrolling new international students.
- Some core indicators in the certification system will be changed to mandatory requirements.
- Inspections will be strengthened regarding issues such as irregular teaching management of international students and infringement of their rights.
4. Gradually Increasing the Proportion of Students Meeting Language Requirements
The certification system includes an "Official Language Proficiency" indicator, which measures the proportion of international students at a school who meet the required language scores. Under current requirements, this proportion is 40%; the new strategy proposes increasing it in stages to 60% by 2030. For reference, the current language requirements for degree-seeking students under the certification system are: TOPIK Level 3 or above for new students, and TOPIK Level 4 or above for enrolled students.
5. Increasing Support for Top Talent in STEM Fields
- Expand the proportion of STEM students in the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS): the proportion of STEM students among master's and doctoral students will be 40.9% in 2025, 43% in 2026, with a target of 45% in 2027.
- GKS master's students with outstanding research achievements can receive support to continue their doctoral studies.
- Starting in 2027, a new "Certification for Outstanding Departments for Overseas Talent" will be introduced: departments with curricula closely aligned with local industries and good records of international students securing local employment and settlement will receive financial support and scholarship quotas.
In addition, the Ministry of Education plans to amend the "Higher Education Act" to clarify the responsibilities of the government and universities toward international students, and will release the basic plan for the 5th round of the certification system in the second half of 2026.
What This Means for Chinese Families
- Check university qualifications first. Under the new regulations, schools that fail institutional evaluations or face operational difficulties may be restricted from enrolling international students, which will also affect students' visas. Before applying, check whether the university has passed the Internationalization Capability Certification.
- Choose agencies through official channels. Verify agency promises against the information on the university's official website; fees and admission conditions are subject to the university's official announcements. You can also apply directly through the Study in Korea system and the university's official website.
- Ensure all materials are authentic. Credential verification is being strengthened. Transcripts and diplomas must be issued and authenticated through official channels.
- Prepare for language tests early. As the proportion of students meeting language requirements at universities increases from 40% to 60%, universities will naturally place more emphasis on applicants' TOPIK scores. Starting your preparation now is safer than taking the test right before applying.
- Policy advantages for STEM fields. For those aiming for scholarships, support for STEM fields is increasing.
This article only summarizes policy information. Specific implementation details are subject to the latest announcements from the Ministry of Education and individual universities.
Need Help?
If you are considering applying to universities in South Korea and want to know how to choose a school and when to prepare your language scores, you can first check out our University Application Planning Service, or Book a one-on-one consultation.