ANDONG — The number of foreign students enrolled in degree programs at universities in North Gyeongsang Province rose 49.1% over the past year, the provincial government said.
North Gyeongsang Province said on the 29th that the region had a total of 22,456 foreign students, according to the 2026 Basic Educational Statistics released by the Korean Educational Development Institute.
That marks an increase of 6,347 students, or 39.4%, from 16,109 a year earlier, ranking fourth nationwide after Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Busan.
Among them, students in degree programs — including bachelor's, master's and doctoral candidates — climbed 49.1% to 18,736 this year from 12,566 the previous year.
That growth rate is double the national average and the highest among South Korea's 17 metropolitan cities and provinces, the province said.
"Students in degree programs are more likely to find jobs and settle here after graduation," a provincial official said. "It is very encouraging that a growing number of students are choosing North Gyeongsang for a degree rather than for short-term language training."
North Gyeongsang Province also runs North Gyeongsang (Gyeongbuk) Institutes in five countries — Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan and Indonesia — where it teaches Korean language and courses on the province, identifies prospective students and supports efforts to attract foreign enrollment.
