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Majority of foreign students willing to work in South Korea

Majority of foreign students willing to work in South Korea

October 14, 2024

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Eight out of 10 international college students studying in South Korea are willing to work in the country, yet the proportion of professional foreign labourers securing jobs remains quite low, reports the Korea Herald, citing a recent report by the Korea International Trade Association.

The report noted that the number of foreign students in South Korea has steadily increased over the past decade, reaching 197,000 in 2022. However, only 6% of these students secured employment through the E-7-1 professional work visa. A survey included in the report, which polled 493 foreign students enrolled at local universities, revealed that 78% were open to working at a company here, with half choosing a Korean firm as their top career choice post-graduation.

The survey found that 3 out of 4 respondents would consider positions outside the Seoul metropolitan area if the salary and benefits were adequate, reflecting a positive attitude toward employment in small and medium-sized enterprises.

Domestic companies are generally positive about hiring international students. A survey of over 400 firms in the trade industry showed that while only 34% were willing to hire foreign workers overall, 51% expressed a willingness to employ international students who graduated from Korean universities.

Significant obstacles remain for international students seeking careers in Korea, including a lack of companies hiring foreign workers as well as challenges in accessing recruitment information and obtaining work visas.