Number of international students in South Korea jumps 21%

The number of international students enrolled in higher education in Korea jumped 21.3 percent from a year earlier, as Vietnamese students overtook Chinese nationals to become the largest group by nationality for the first time, Education Ministry data showed Wednesday. The number reached 307,464 this year, up from 253,434 in 2025 and surpassing 300,000 for the first time. The Education Ministry released the results of its annual education statistics survey Wednesday. Conducted in April, the cen

2026-08-26 14:49:44:00

Immigration office under fire for penalizing foreign rider but not delivery agency owner

A foreign delivery rider affiliated with a delivery agency in Gwangju was penalized for violating immigration law earlier this year, but the business operator was not, raising questions over how the rider had been able to work. According to reports by local news agency News1 on Wednesday, a Vietnamese national who worked for the delivery agency was apprehended by the Gwangju Immigration Office in January for violating the Immigration Act. The rider was fined 2 million won ($1,444), while no sepa

2026-08-26 12:11:08:00

Seoul student rights ordinance survives repeal attempt

Seoul's student rights ordinance will remain in effect after the city council on Tuesday rejected a proposal to abolish it, ending a renewed attempt to scrap the controversial measure. The Seoul Metropolitan Council voted down a motion to reconsider the repeal ordinance at a plenary session, with 117 of 118 members voting against the repeal ordinance and one abstaining. No lawmakers voted in favor. The result means the Seoul Student Human Rights Ordinance, which had faced possible abolition, wil

2026-08-25 16:25:28:00

Education chiefs oppose plan to scrap tax-linked school funding

South Korea’s regional education chiefs on Tuesday voiced strong opposition to the government’s plan to overhaul the local education finance system, calling for the current formula to remain in place. The Korea Governors of Education Association held an emergency press conference at the National Assembly and issued a joint statement signed by 16 regional education superintendents opposing the proposed changes. Under the government plan, the current system automatically linking the Local Educatio

2026-08-25 14:19:24:00

New Korean proficiency test introduced for migrant-background students

South Korea will introduce a new Korean-language assessment tool for migrant-background students in elementary, middle and high schools, as their numbers continue to rise across the country, the Education Ministry said Tuesday. The teacher-administered test is designed to help schools quickly gauge students' Korean proficiency when they enroll in an aim to provide language instruction tailored to their individual needs. According to ministry data, the number of migrant-background students in Kor

2026-08-25 13:16:23:00

Korea University tech holding firm clears losses, plans first dividend

Korea University’s technology holding company plans to pay dividends for the first time after wiping out accumulated losses with gains from startup investments. The move marks a milestone in the university’s efforts to build a self-sustaining technology commercialization model. Korea University Holdings said Monday it generated 3.55 billion won ($2.6 million) in gains from selling stakes in five portfolio companies during the first half of this year, allowing it to fully offset accumulated defic

2026-08-24 17:43:16:00

20 colleges, universities face state-funded student aid restrictions in 2027

South Korea will restrict state scholarships and student loans for incoming students at 20 universities and junior colleges next year, after the institutions failed to meet accreditation or financial sustainability requirements, the Education Ministry said Monday. The ministry finalized its list of universities eligible for government-backed student aid for the 2027 academic year ahead of the early admissions season, assessing 308 institutions nationwide. Among them, 20 will face either full or

2026-08-24 14:48:56:00

Cheating via smart glasses pushes Korea to revise exam rules

Smart glasses were used in at least five cases of cheating during South Korea's national technical qualification exams over a period of just two months, prompting the government to revise regulations to better address emerging technologies used for cheating. According to data submitted by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea to Rep. Kim So-hee of the main opposition People Power Party on Monday, five candidates were caught wearing or using smart glasses during exams in May and June.

2026-08-24 14:47:37:00

Nuclear reactors unaffected after minor earthquakes in Haenam

A magnitude 3.1 earthquake that struck Haenam, Jeonnam-Gwangju, early Sunday had no impact on the country’s nuclear power plants, nuclear authorities said. The earthquake struck an area 21 kilometers west-northwest of Haenam at 6:43 a.m., according to authorities. The earthquake was not strong. The US Geological Survey describes a magnitude 3 quake as like "the vibrations caused by a passing truck" — quite noticeable but not always recognized as an earthquake. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power said al

2026-08-23 16:22:36:00

Disability rights activist acquitted after court finds police dispersal order unlawful

An appellate court has acquitted a disability rights activist who pushed and injured a police officer during a demonstration, ruling that the activist acted in lawful self-defense because the police dispersal order was unlawful, according to legal circles Sunday. The activist, affiliated with disability rights group Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination, had been charged with injuring a police officer while resisting their attempt to remove a disabled protester from a roadway during a ral

2026-08-23 14:32:23:00