Interest among Vietnamese students in studying in South Korea is rising, but tougher visa reviews are also increasing the number of applicants who fail financial screening, Vietnamese media reported. The trend is fueling calls for clearer, more accurate guidance on study requirements.
Citing multiple Vietnamese outlets including VnExpress, reports on May 5 (local time) said statistics released in March by the Korea Immigration Service under the Ministry of Justice showed the number of international students in South Korea had topped 310,000. Vietnamese students ranked first at about 110,000.
As the student population grows, the share of rejected study-visa applications is also rising. Reports said rejections are especially common when applicants fail to meet requirements for proof of funds or submit study plans that do not satisfy screening standards.
The South Korean Embassy in Vietnam announced March 20 that it would strengthen financial reviews for study-visa applications, a step aimed at preventing illegal stays. Experts said applicants can be flagged as high risk even if other conditions are met when bank accounts are opened late, account balances do not match actual income, or the source of funds is unclear. They also cited factors that can weaken an application, including long gaps in schooling, an unexplained low GPA, weak interview answers, and limited understanding of the school being applied to.
Ha Thi Phuong, head of CMTC Vietnam, a consulting firm that provides financial-document services for Vietnamese students, said more than half of her clients run into problems because bank accounts are set up incorrectly, creating inconsistencies across documents. “Many applicants go back and forth between banks, notary offices and study-abroad agencies several times, but still end up unable to complete the paperwork properly,” she said. She added that visa officers focus less on the balance itself than on how the money was accumulated. “They place more weight on how long the funds have been deposited and on the family’s actual household income and overall financial situation,” she said.
Whether the account is in the student’s name or a parent’s name can also matter. For applicants under 18, using a parent’s account is often legally advantageous, while some adult students choose accounts in their own names. Timing can be critical as well, because some schools or consulates accept only balance certificates issued close to the submission deadline. Reports warned that even a small error can quickly lead to a denial or a delayed review.
Need grows for accurate study-abroad information↑
Against that backdrop, interest is increasing in reliable information about studying in South Korea. From April 20 to 26, YT Korea, a study-abroad consulting organization, held the “1st Korea Education Seminar 2026” in major Vietnamese cities including Hanoi, Nghe An, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat, drawing attention, reports said.
Representatives from Silla University, Busan University of Foreign Studies, Kyungnam College of Information & Technology, Busan Catholic University and Ulsan College attended in person. Students asked questions on the spot about admissions requirements, scholarships, and education and living conditions in South Korea. An organizer at the Nghe An event said interest was particularly strong in the possibility of obtaining an E-7 visa and permanent residency after graduating in technology and engineering fields.
Organizers said the event aimed to move students and parents beyond choosing schools based on trends and toward planning for careers and permanent residency. Bui Thi Tam, a representative of the organizer, said, “In each region, our goal was not simply to pick a school, but to draw a future roadmap together for each student.” She added, “YT Korea promises to stay with students from the moment they begin learning Korean in Vietnam until they settle in Korea and find formal employment.” Reports said one-on-one consultations continued throughout the event, and the final stop in Da Lat drew hundreds of application registrations.
With study-visa screening becoming more stringent, experts advised students to begin financial preparations at least six months to a year in advance and to ensure consistency across documents, saying it is the fastest way to save both time and money.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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