Foreign students in Korea call for support after graduation

With over 320,000 international students currently enrolled in universities across South Korea, many foreign nationals express concern that the most challenging aspect may commence once their academic support concludes: securing employment, transitioning visas, and finding independent housing. The Korea Times convened a forum on Thursday, bringing together five foreign students from Iran, China, Russia, India, and the Philippines to share their experiences and brainstorm strategies to enhance post-graduation assistance.

The participants lamented that government and university initiatives frequently concentrate on the period of enrollment, leaving graduates to confront the challenges of entering the workforce and adapting to long-term residency with minimal practical guidance. Ghazal Esmaeili, an Iranian master's student at Korea University who has resided in Korea for three years under the Global Korea Scholarship, stated that she seldom worried about visa or daily-life matters thanks to the extensive support provided by her scholarship and educational institution.

However, she cautioned that the conclusion of such aid would place her solely responsible for obtaining a new visa status and securing a job, rendering the transition to independent living daunting. Aya Cassandra Dela Cruz, another Filipino master's student at Korea University, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the significant gap between the comprehensive support during their studies and the limited resources available after graduation.