Busan's foreign student numbers hit record 24,328 as support programs expand

According to August data, Busan's foreign student count climbed to a historic 24,328, marking a 30% increase over the previous year. The surge follows the city's 2024 collaboration with universities to unify fragmented recruitment and support programs, targeting 30,000 international students by 2028. In February, the Study Busan Hub opened as a one-stop centre, linking universities, government agencies and hospitals such as Daedong Hospital, Dong-Eui Medical Center and Good Gang-An Hospital to provide daily-life, health, finance and visa services.

The hub also coordinates group fingerprint registration with the Busan Immigration and Foreigners Office. Promotion efforts include education fairs in Central Asia and campus tours for officials from Almaty. A support-sharing event on Tuesday at the National Pension Service’s Busan office will feature presentations on the My Busan platform, employment success stories, and a scholarship ceremony for Global Busan Scholarship recipients. Mayor Chun Jae-soo emphasized the need for comprehensive support across academics, employment and long-term settlement as the city nears its 30,000-student goal.