The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 11th that it will hold a discussion forum on support for foreign students' settlement in the main conference room of Seoul City Hall on the 14th in collaboration with the Korea Local Administration Institute.
This meeting is aimed at exploring ways to attract and settle foreign students. University officials, foreign employment and entrepreneurship experts, and foreign students will participate in the meeting.
The number of foreign students in Korea is steadily increasing. As of September last year, a total of 208,962 foreign students were studying in domestic universities, up 15% compared to the previous year (181,842). Among them, 81,199 foreign students are at universities located in Seoul, accounting for 38.9% of the total.
Many foreign students also plan to continue working in Korea after graduation. The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises conducted a survey asking foreign students about their career prospects after graduation, and 86.5% responded that they hope to find employment in Korea after graduation.
This discussion forum will consist of expert presentations and discussions involving foreign students and stakeholders. Dr. Kim Pil from the Korea Local Administration Institute will be the first presenter, proposing tailored settlement design strategies that connect foreign students with corporations. Afterward, Dr. Kim Hwa-yeon from the Immigration Policy Institute will give a presentation on the topic of 'paradigm shifts in foreign student policy and governance system issues.'
Additionally, discussions involving universities and corporations will be held, and experiences and examples from foreign students who have found jobs in Seoul will also be shared.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to establish and continually improve policies necessary for the settlement and support of foreign students based on the discussions and voices from the field during this forum.
Lim Jae-geun, the foreign immigration officer of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, said, 'We will strive to ensure that foreign students can study, work, and stay happily, ultimately transforming Seoul into a global city where domestic and international talents work together.'