On Dec. 5, a class on “Research Methodology in Historical Documents” took place at the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. During the session, a Korean professor asked a Taiwanese international student about the commonalities between education in Korea and Taiwan. Responding fluently in Korean, the student answered, “After the expansion of compulsory education, private education expenses have increased.” The class focused on studying Korea’s modern and contemporary education system by reading documents written in Chinese characters.
Surprisingly, among the eight students enrolled in the class, only one is a Korean student. The rest of the students are from China (including Taiwan), Mongolia, and Romania. Professor Park Dae-kwon noted, “Foreign students, including those of Chinese descent, often understand ‘Chinese character documents’ better than Korean students who did not learn Chinese characters in their early years.” He said he often asks foreign students to undertake the translation of Korean historical documents.
The AKS is often referred to as the ‘hometown’ of Korean studies research. However, this year’s composition of master’s and doctoral students reveals an interesting shift, with 114 Korean students and 93 international students. The surge in global attention towards ‘Hallyu,’ particularly ‘K-pop,’ has led to a significant increase in foreigners taking an interest in ‘Korean Studies’ beyond popular culture. In the early 2000s, the number of foreign students at the institute was relatively low.
Last year, there were 281 applicants for Korean studies graduate programs from international students. Professor Park said, “Since the 2010s, the number of foreign students has noticeably increased, and today, there are quite a few classes with more international students than Korean students.”
To accommodate an increasing number of international students, the institute is constructing two additional dormitories. Currently, the institute admits 60 Korean students and approximately 50-60 international students annually. With the completion of the new dormitories, the proportion of international students is expected to rise.
Presently, the AKS offers 16 majors across four departments: Humanities, Cultural Arts, Social Sciences, and Global Korean Studies. The majority of classes are conducted in Korean, and both master’s and doctoral theses are written in Korean.
Recently enrolled international students at the institute often return to their home countries to teach Korean studies or the Korean language. This trend is prevalent due to the increasing number of universities in various countries, particularly in Eastern Europe, expanding Korean studies and language courses.
Andrea (26), a doctoral student from Romania, said, “Right now, Korean is more popular than Chinese in Romania, and the competition for Korean language courses has increased.” She added, “My goal is to teach students after obtaining a Ph.D. in education.”
It is reported that one-third of international students who receive degrees from the institute become professors in their home countries. Some also find employment in domestic companies.
International students at the institute are exempt from tuition fees and can receive a monthly scholarship of 800,000 won if they maintain good academic performance. The influx of outstanding international students aligns with the institute’s founding purpose of promoting the spread of Korean studies.
The Ministry of Education plans to further increase the recruitment of overseas master’s and doctoral students. According to the Ministry, the percentage of international students in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries is 14.3% for master’s and 24.3% for doctoral programs. In contrast, South Korea stands at 10.6% for master’s and 16.7% for doctoral programs.
This led to criticisms suggesting Korean universities actively recruit foreign undergraduate students for tuition revenue, but not enough to attract top talent.
Experts say it is crucial for Korea to facilitate the acquisition of permanent residency to enhance the recruitment of international talents at the master’s and doctoral levels. Professor Bae Young-chan of Hanyang University said, “While the number of master’s and doctoral international students has increased significantly in Seoul’s universities, many are leaving Korea due to difficulties in obtaining permanent residency and employment.”
He said, “The government should also prioritize attracting international students with advanced qualifications to address the low birth rate issue.”
This article was originally published on Dec. 12, 2023.
