<aside> <img src="notion://custom_emoji/0f4107f7-f3a1-4073-9010-7f7a65e3a03b/16e68460-e909-80bb-afb1-007a0f9a3e32" alt="notion://custom_emoji/0f4107f7-f3a1-4073-9010-7f7a65e3a03b/16e68460-e909-80bb-afb1-007a0f9a3e32" width="40px" />
Reference File
</aside>
On August 16, 2023, the Ministry of Education (MOE) of South Korea announced the launch of the Study Korea 300K Project, an ambitious initiative aimed at attracting 300,000 international students to the country by 2027. This initiative is designed to position Korea among the top ten study-abroad destinations worldwide by improving the international student experience, fostering regional economic growth, and strengthening global talent networks.
To facilitate the recruitment and integration of international students, the government plans to establish special education internationalization zones. These zones will function at the local government level to develop strategies for attracting global talent, improving educational infrastructure, and connecting international students with regional industries.
A Global Talent Center will also be established within overseas Korean Education Centers to systematically support students seeking to study in Korea. Additionally, the Education Internationalization Competency Certification System will be reviewed and reformed to remove administrative barriers that hinder student recruitment.
A collaborative Global Talent Strategy Team, consisting of universities, industries, and local governments, will be formed under the Regional Innovation System & Education (RISE) program. The focus will be on enhancing Korean language and cultural education, expanding internship opportunities, and creating structured career paths for students.
For industries like shipbuilding and ppuri (foundation) industries, specialized training programs will be introduced to develop skilled professionals. This initiative aims to address labor shortages in critical sectors and strengthen Korea’s economic backbone.
To secure a highly skilled workforce, the government is expanding the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) program and increasing financial incentives for recruiting international researchers in high-tech fields.
Moreover, universities will introduce more English-taught courses in areas such as academic writing and research ethics to support non-Korean-speaking students.
To retain talent, the government will streamline visa processes for graduates in science and technology fields. The new “Science Technology Talent Fast-Track System” will reduce the time required for obtaining permanent residency or naturalization from six years to three.
To ensure a seamless study-abroad experience, the MOE will implement the following:
A central task force, headed by the Deputy Prime Minister, will oversee the initiative, ensuring effective coordination across various ministries.