KUALA LUMPUR - As young Koreans increasingly shun part-time service roles, restaurants across South Korea are turning to international students to fill vacancies.

The Korea Herald reports that despite wages reaching 15,000 won per hour ($10.20), employers struggle to find locals willing to work as waitstaff or kitchen assistants.

Many foreign students now juggle studies with shifts in cafes, eateries, and barbecue restaurants to meet this demand.

Data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics shows foreign workers in food and hospitality rose from 107,000 in 2022 to 131,000 in 2024, a 22.4 percent increase.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice says the number of D-2 and D-4 student visa holders has grown by more than a third, reaching 263,000 in the same period.

A key reason is the easing of student visa work restrictions in 2023, which allows international undergraduates with intermediate Korean to work up to 25 hours per week on weekdays and more during weekends.

Students are favoured by employers because the Employment Permit System for other foreign workers has complex hiring requirements and lengthy processing times.

According to a June survey by Alba Cheonguk, nearly 38 percent of small business owners said they had hired or were currently employing foreign students.

"Many cited dependable attendance and willingness to work irregular hours," the survey noted, although some owners mentioned difficulties with communication and visa compliance.

Local media have reported instances of students exceeding legal work-hour limits and receiving cash payments for unreported shifts.

One Seoul restaurant owner said the payroll reflects only the official maximum, while additional hours are handled informally.

The influx of international students is also reshaping some universities, with one in southern Gyeonggi Province seeing enrolment rise tenfold in two years.

Merchants in the area say it is common for students to attend just enough classes to maintain visa status before heading straight to work.