Seoul is shifting policy to move foreign students from “potential talent” to long-term residents, aiming to link study with employment and settlement rather than simply increasing arrivals.
The city said April 28 it will open the Seoul Global International Student Support Center in the Sinchon university district and begin full operations in May. The center is designed as a one-stop platform offering integrated help with jobs, startups and daily life, positioning Seoul as a hub where global talent gathers and stays.
The move responds to a surge in international students. Over the past decade, the number of foreign students in South Korea rose from about 90,000 to 250,000, but officials and others have said pathways to jobs and long-term settlement remain weak. A survey found 65.5% of international students want to remain in South Korea, while only 13.8% end up employed.
To close what the city called a gap between “inflow” and “settlement,” Seoul plans an integrated model connecting education → employment → settlement, with the new center serving as the main base for delivering services.
The center includes counseling space, a shared office, classrooms and community facilities. It will provide job support, startup support, visa and residency counseling, and help with adapting to life in Seoul. The city remodeled an existing youth startup facility, shifting its function to meet changing policy demand.
Employment links are a major focus. Programs include training for trade marketers, business Korean courses and on-site work-experience programs. The center will also provide foreigner hiring information, resume and interview consulting, and “career fairs” aimed at connecting students to jobs.
Support for stable settlement will run in parallel. A “30 days around Seoul” program will offer cultural and company experiences, while TOPIK preparation classes and Korean-language meetups will help students adjust. The center will also provide information on visas, housing and daily life and support community activities to encourage local integration.
Seoul said it will expand the support system with universities and related organizations, including job programs linked with the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency, and will develop demand-based policies through communication with university international offices and international student associations.
Lee Young-mi, head of Seoul’s foreign residents and immigration office, said international students are “already proven global talent.” She said the city will build “systematic support that leads to employment and long-term settlement” to make Seoul a place where global talent gathers and remains.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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