Foreign Students Seeking to Stay in South Korea Nearly Doubled in Five Years as Pay Rose

The number of international students who want to settle in South Korea after graduating from local universities has nearly doubled over the past five years, as rising wages make staying in the country more attractive.

International student population hits 180,000 as source countries shift

According to a report released on the 9th by the Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI), titled "Analysis of Employment Status and Issues of International Students," the number of international students in South Korea rose from 98,602 in 2017 to 187,856 in 2023, nearly doubling over five years.

The makeup of their countries of origin has also changed markedly. Chinese students, who made up nearly half (48.5%) in 2017, fell to under 30% in 2023, while students from Vietnam surged to about 40%. Students from Uzbekistan also accounted for about 6%, making Uzbekistan a newly significant source country.

Regardless of educational level, graduates' salary levels rose overall. Among associate degree holders in employment, 41.8% received at least 3 million won per month in 2023 — the highest share. The share of doctoral graduates earning at least 3 million won per month also jumped from 62.5% in 2019 to 77.9% in 2023.

63% want to stay in South Korea, with wide gaps by nationality

Along with these income increases, the share of graduates who want to stay in South Korea after graduation has surged. The share hoping to remain in South Korea rose from 41.2% in 2017 to 63% in 2023, while the share hoping to return to their home country plunged from 48% to 30.4%.

However, views on post-graduation plans varied sharply by country of origin. More than half of Chinese students (53.5–56.7%) said they would choose to return home after finishing their studies. By contrast, the share of Vietnamese students who hope to stay in South Korea rose from 64.8% in 2017 to 80.3% in 2023, and Mongolian students' preference for settling in South Korea surged from 48.7% to 74.7%.

Researchers at the Korean Educational Development Institute said, "Overall job satisfaction among international students is relatively high, but satisfaction with welfare benefits, pay and promotion opportunities is relatively low," and added, "To increase the chances that outstanding foreign talent will continue working in South Korea, workplace satisfaction needs to improve in those three areas."