The move comes as authorities tighten oversight to manage a surge in inbound enrollments.
According to Times Higher Educationthe Ministry of Education designated 16 degree-granting universities and four Korean language institutes as subject to “strict screening on visa issuance.” Barring exceptional cases, these institutions are prohibited from sponsoring new student visas for the next 12 months.
The suspensions follow an annual joint audit by the Education and Justice ministries, which evaluates institutions on criteria such as the credentials of Korean language instructors, visa overstay rates among foreign students, and student satisfaction.
Universities failing to meet these benchmarks face penalties ranging from enhanced monitoring to temporary bans on visa sponsorship. Sanctioned institutions include Geumgang University, Suwon Catholic University, Joong-Ang Sangha University, and Hyupsung University.
The crackdown arrives as South Korea’s higher education sector aggressively expands overseas recruitment to counter a demographic decline. With domestic student numbers falling, many institutions rely on foreign enrollments for financial stability.
South Korea attracted more than 305,000 international students as of August last year, surpassing its 2027 target, with Vietnamese students leading the influx.
This is the first time the number of international students enrolled in South Korean universities and language schools has exceeded 300,000, allowing the country to reach its ambitious target two years ahead of schedule, according to data from the Korea Immigration Service
Despite the sanctions, more institutions have achieved accredited status under the international student management framework. The Korea Times reports that 181 providers were accredited in the latest evaluation, up from 158 a year earlier.
Accredited institutions benefit from streamlined visa procedures, increased eligibility for the Global Korea Scholarship program, and priority access to state-supported recruitment fairs. Officials attribute the rise in accreditation to growing institutional interest in foreign students and recent revisions to evaluation criteria that reduced administrative burdens while tightening penalties for mismanagement.
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