Universities that fail to meet basic educational standards will face restrictions on recruiting foreign students, as the number of international students in South Korea tops 300,000 this year.
The Education Ministry said on the 8th that it will overhaul the International Education Quality Assurance System, which is linked to visa screening, to strengthen universities' capacity to educate and manage foreign students. The plan was announced as part of a broader strategy for developing talent among international students.
Starting in 2029, universities that lack basic educational conditions will be barred from recruiting foreign students. The restriction will apply to schools that fail to obtain accreditation in institutional evaluations — which assess management performance, curriculum, academic administration and student support — or that are designated as financially troubled institutions for two consecutive years in financial assessments of private universities. The ministry also plans to select 10 universities each year that have drawn public criticism over problems in educating or managing foreign students and conduct on-site inspections.
The ministry will also revise the evaluation framework of the International Education Quality Assurance System, converting key indicators related to foreign student education and management into mandatory requirements from 2029. The threshold for Korean and English language proficiency indicators will rise in stages from 40% or higher this year to 50% or higher in 2028 and 60% or higher in 2030. To address problems with student recruitment through study-abroad agencies, the ministry will distribute a draft standard agreement between universities and agencies within this year.
The ministry will also introduce a certification program for departments excelling in overseas talent starting next year. Departments that design curricula linked to local industries and produce results in local employment and settlement of foreign students will receive benefits including financial support and scholarship allocations. "We will support international students so they can build on their studies and experiences in Korea to succeed in our society and around the world, while further raising the standing of Korean education," Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin said.
