Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF

Keys to the Market: South Korea

South Korea is one of the most-established sending markets in Asia, and has been a major source of international students for nearly 20 years now. While the number of South Korean students heading abroad has declined over the last four years, the country remains among the leading senders for major study destinations. Drawing on country reporting data for 2015 and 2016, for example, South Korea remains the fourth-largest sending market for the US, Canada, and Australia. As we reported last year, there are also some indications of shifting demand patterns within South Korea. Greater numbers of students are now seeking out more affordable destinations within their home region, including China and the Philippines. In the latest instalment in our Keys to the Market series below, David McGuire, executive director of UFV International at the University of the Fraser Valley, shares his insights on how to diversify and strengthen your recruiting efforts in South Korea.

Most Recent

  • Survey of 67,000 prospective students highlights gaps between interest and enrolment for study abroad Read More
  • Bipartisan congressional group calls on US administration to preserve Duration of Status for international student visas Read More
  • US ELT weeks fell by nearly -8% in 2025 Read More

Most Popular

  • Which countries will contribute the most to global student mobility in 2030? Read More
  • Research shows link between study abroad and poverty alleviation  Read More
  • Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe Read More

Because you found this article interesting

Bipartisan congressional group calls on US administration to preserve Duration of Status for international student visas There was something different about this year’s annual NAFSA conference. The experience was wonderfully familiar in many ways,...
Read more
US ELT weeks fell by nearly -8% in 2025 In 2024, a slow recovery from plummeting international enrolments in the COVID-19 pandemic was underway for US Intensive...
Read more
Report: International students already studying in the UK or offshore through TNE represent an increasingly important recruitment opportunity Tighter compliance thresholds for UK universities recruiting international students – and the associated “Red, Amber, Green” scheme developed...
Read more
Japan: Greater availability of in-country English programmes is exerting some downward pressure on outbound mobility Nearly 170,000 Japanese students studied abroad using one of 41 service providers in Japan in 2025, with the...
Read more
UK: Sponsored study visa issuances down, rejection rates up, and more If you are an international student prospect, where you live in the world increasingly determines where you can...
Read more
New data provides early signals that Canada’s popularity as a study destination is on the rise Demand for study in Canada appears to be on the rebound, according to search data from two major...
Read more
UK universities bracing for a further decline in international enrolments Last year, the number of foreign students in UK higher education declined by -6%, according to data from...
Read more
Australia orders a year-long pause on new VET and ELICOS provider registrations In a legislative instrument dated 18 May 2025, Australia’s Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill has ordered...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links