Recommendations for improving international study programs in South Korea: a literature review

Abstract

The recruitment of international students (ISs) has been one of the most effective measures for offsetting declining domestic enrollments in higher education in western countries such as Australia and the UK. These declining enrollments were precipitated by changing demographics that resulted in a decline in the number of high school graduates. In recent years, South Korea has begun a similar decline, even though it is already a significant source of ISs migrating to other countries. The Korean government has sought various ways to increase the number of inbound ISs, but these efforts have been hampered by a number of issues, many of them rooted in cultural and institutional elements. This paper reviews the contemporary literature on these issues and attempt to combine the results into policy recommendations that may allow for the implementation of more sustainable IS programs. These issues and policy recommendations likely apply to the educational contexts of other countries, especially those with similar prospects for demographic change.