SEJONG - South Korea’s Education Ministry has unveiled a quality-focused international-student strategy after enrolment passed 300,000. The ministry announced the strategy on Sept. 8, shifting policy from expanding student numbers toward education quality and talent development.

Education statistics counted 307,464 foreign students in higher education as of April 1, up 54,030, or 21.3%, from a year earlier. The government had targeted 300,000 students by 2027 under its Study Korea 300K Project.

Recruitment agencies and foreign academic credentials are central to the new controls. A standard university-agency agreement due in the second half of 2026 will prohibit false or exaggerated advertising, while universities will receive guidance and consultation on verifying foreign degrees during admissions and transfers.

University oversight will also tighten.

From 2029, for the 2030 academic-year intake, universities without institutional accreditation and private universities rated financially distressed for two consecutive years will face limits on recruiting new international students. Money Today reported the timing and criteria.

The ministry also plans to amend the Higher Education Act to clarify government and university responsibilities toward international students and create a legal basis for corrective measures against improper practices. Those legislative changes are planned and are not yet in force.

Money Today quoted Lee Nan-young, the ministry’s director general for international education planning, as saying tighter recruitment controls could push the student total back below 300,000.

“Quality management is necessary for future development,” she said.