The ministry's comprehensive on-site inspections, to be carried out over two months until May in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, will target schools suspected of improper screenings or admitting too many students without adequate checks.
These inspections come after the recent cancellation of visas for more than 100 Chinese students enrolled at or who graduated from Honam University in the southwestern city of Gwangju, after immigration authorities discovered that the academic credentials they submitted were falsified.
Inspectors will check whether universities properly followed admission procedures including Korean language requirements and visa regulations. Schools found committing serious violations such as falsifying documents could have their certifications revoked and be barred from issuing visas for up to three years.
Nearly half of domestic universities, or 47.1 percent, are not properly accredited or certified to admit new international students, making it difficult to monitor or supervise them effectively.
The ministry said it plans to introduce stricter certification procedures to help universities better recruit and evaluate international students, supporting talented overseas students and promising professionals in finding jobs in South Korea, which could pave the way for their long-term stay after completing their studies here.
Separately, the ministry will select four universities for intensive inspections in the first half of this year and another four in the second half.
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