Korea’s internationalisation drive attracts growing numbers of US students:

The growth of strategic internationalization plans was evident in attracting more students from the U.S, improving the academic exchange between South Korea and the United States. South Korea’s neighbouring countries grabbed a 50.6% market share of international student enrolment for the first half of 2024; over 200,000 students were enrolled in South Korea. The Korea government has in the current year launched the vision of making its country to be a home for 300, 000 international students by mid this year 2027. To achieve this, several initiatives have been introduced:

• Extended Post-Graduation Stay: From 2025, they will be allowed to stay in South Korea for up to three years in search of a job after their studies which is a departure from the current rule of allowing them to stay for only six months. 

• Expanded Employment Opportunities: Domestic international graduates will be able to find a large pool of job types that will enable them to get into the South Korean market easily. 

• Increased Scholarships: The Global Korea Scholarship program will be able to provide more funds in order to lure talented students in the world. 

All these measures are intended to offer South Korea as a favourable destination to foreign students; in this case, it plans to host students from the United States. The longer extension after completing the academic course and opening up of more jobs, especially, are also thought to attract American students who want to have a world job market. This ever expanding academic exchange not only positively impacts the educational gains of US students but also enhances the bilateral social and educational relations between South Korea and the United States.