Twenty local universities will not be allowed to issue student visas to foreign nationals for one year starting this fall semester after failing to meet required standards for managing international students, The Korea Times reported, citing the Ministry of Education. The decision follows the government’s annual review of universities’ oversight and support systems for foreign students.
The ministry said 16 universities offering degree programmes and four institutions running Korean language courses have been classified as “universities requiring strict screening on visa issuance.” This means that except under extraordinary circumstances, they cannot issue student visas for one year.
Institutions facing the restriction include Geumgang University, Suwon Catholic University, Joong-Ang Sangha University and Hyupsung University.
The government has conducted the annual evaluation since 2012. The education and justice ministries jointly assess universities’ internationalisation capacity and their management of foreign student programmes.
The report said the number of international students in Korea reached 253,000 in 2024, up 21 per cent from 209,000 the previous year.
Universities that fail to meet standards face sanctions. The review examines areas such as the qualifications of Korean language tutors, illegal stay rates among foreign students and student satisfaction with Korean language courses. Institutions that fall short may face restrictions on issuing student visas.
In the latest review, the government designated 181 universities as “accredited universities,” up from 158 last year. Accredited institutions receive simplified visa screening for foreign students and preference when being selected to host students under the state-run Global Korea Scholarship programme. They also get priority in overseas study fairs to attract international students.
The ministry said the increase in accredited universities reflects growing demand among institutions to recruit foreign students and revised evaluation indicators introduced in the latest cycle.
From this year, the government revised the system to reduce administrative burdens during the assessment process. It also strengthened sanctions against institutions that inadequately manage foreign students in areas such as admissions screening and career support.
Detailed information on accredited universities is available on the official websites of Study in Korea and the National Research Foundation, according to The Korea Times.
