The nation s universities are witnessing a transformative shift in their cultural landscape, brought by a surge in the number of international students. Though the trend was stagnant during the pandemic era, the number of international students in South Korea has steadily increased over the decades, amounting to 181,842 as of 2023. That is more than double the number 10 years ago (85,923), and 10 times more than in 2.
On the morning of Oct. 5, about 25 Americans were busy learning basic Korean language, culture and local living information as part of the Headstart Program provided by Pyeongtaek University in Gyeonggi Province.