International Students

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Over 800 foreign students obtain degrees in Korea each year. It’s especially attractive because in many cases, the Korean government supports their studies. How are these students promoting Korea back home? Let’s find out.

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This woman wearing a hijab writes down Korean letters with a brush.

[Soundbite] PhD in Design(Chung-Ang University) : "This is so emotional for me to wear hanbok and take part in a calligraphy event together with other Koreans."

She came to Korea from Egypt 4 years ago to study. With government scholarship aid, she has completed a doctorate course. She returns home next month.

[Soundbite] PhD in Design(Chung-Ang University) : "I hope to pursue a field connecting Korean culture to Egypt."

This lady from Myanmar has also finished her master's with scholarship support and has decided to work for a Korean IT firm.

[Soundbite] (Master of Computer Science, Seoul Nat'l University) : "The network infrastructure is still rather weak in Myanmar so I found a job related to this area."

Some 81-hundred foreign students from 150 nations completed government-assisted studies in Korea over the past 50 years. They are global talents who made the cut through a stiff 19 to 1 average competition rate. Former employment and welfare minister of Ghana Moses Asaga and Korean department professor in India Vyjayanti Raghavan are just some of the names who passed through this program and studied in Korea. Starting next year, the Seoul government is planning on a scholarship program also for Korean adoptees or children of Korean residents overseas.