International student employment rate in Korea 34.3%, 81.3% of PhDs leave after graduation: Ministry of Justice data on enrollment, jobs, settlement and D-10, E-7, F-2 visas

Among international students who graduated from Korean universities, the employment rate excluding those who left the country right after graduation was 34.3%. Among doctoral graduates, 81.3% left Korea after graduation. On September 4, the Korea Immigration Service of the Ministry of Justice released its report on the "Status of International Students' Stay and Settlement," which analyzed the stay records of 530,557 international students admitted to Korean universities from 2019 to 2025 and 152,107 international students who graduated in the same period. New enrollment in 2025 reached 117,333, up 75% from 2019.

The analysis uses residence status data to trace each student's path: admission, enrollment, graduation, employment, and finally settling in Korea or leaving. The visa routes students actually use after graduation are the job-seeking visa (D-10-1), the specially designated activities visa (E-7) and the residence visa (F-2). Amounts are given in U.S. dollars first, with Korean won in parentheses (Hana Bank base exchange rate on November 3, 2026: $1 = KRW 1,341.10).

Who was counted and how: D-2-based, so figures differ from Ministry of Education statistics

Before reading the numbers, check the criteria. In this analysis, an "international student" is a foreign national attending or having graduated from a Korean university on a student visa (D-2). Because the count is based on D-2, students on Korean language training visas (D-4) are not included. The figures may therefore differ from the Ministry of Education's "Basic Education Statistics," which counts anyone of foreign nationality as an international student regardless of residence status.

The 530,557 admitted students include exchange students. The 152,107 graduates are those who graduated in 2019–2025 regardless of when they were admitted, and exchange students are excluded.

The definition of "employed" also differs from the Ministry of Education's. The Ministry of Justice counts as employed those who changed their status after graduation to a work visa (E-1~E-7) or to residence (F-2) or permanent residency (F-5). This differs from the Ministry of Education's employment statistics, which are based on criteria such as workplace health insurance enrollment. People staying on a job-seeking (D-10) status are not counted as employed. Employment and settlement were determined from records from graduation through March 2026.

The key indicators are calculated as follows.

• Employment rate (%) = employed graduates ÷ (graduates − graduates who left permanently right after graduation) × 100
• Domestic settlement rate (%) = work visa (E-1~E-7) holders who changed to residence (F-2) or permanent residency (F-5) ÷ work visa holders × 100
• Permanent departure = cases in which the person returned the alien registration card, went back to their home country and had their alien registration cancelled

The denominator of the employment rate is not all graduates but graduates minus those who left permanently right after graduation. That is why it comes out higher than the share of employed graduates among all graduates.

Some figures are rounded at lower levels, so totals may not match the sum of their components. The key figures for each stage are shown in the table below.

Admission: 117,333 in 2025, up 75% from 2019

New enrollment of international students reached 117,333 in 2025, up 75% from 2019. Over the same period, total enrollment including Korean nationals fell 1%. The total enrollment figure is cited from the "Basic Education Statistics" of the Ministry of Education and the Korean Educational Development Institute.

By region, growth was especially strong in North Chungcheong, North Gyeongsang, South Jeolla and Gyeonggi. Ulsan and Jeju saw admissions decline. Inflows to North Chungcheong grew mainly in medicine-related and engineering fields, and those to North Gyeongsang mainly in medicine-related fields. Here, medicine-related fields refer to medicine, health, physical therapy, clinical pathology, care and the like.

By major, admissions rose rapidly in clinical pathology, nursing and care (▴296%) and semiconductor-related departments (▴138%).

By nationality, growth rates were high for Myanmar (▴828%) and Nepal (▴768%). In terms of size, China (36,000) and Vietnam (26,000), among others, stayed at the top.

Enrollment: grades and part-time work permit rates

At the enrollment stage, the ministry analyzed academic grades and part-time work permit rates. The share of students with an average grade of B or higher was 75% or more among students from Germany, Indonesia, France and Nepal. It was 68% or more among students from Japan, Myanmar and the United States.

The part-time work permit rate is the share of all international students who received a part-time work permit. By region, Jeju (29%) was highest, followed by Gangwon (21%). By nationality, Nepal (47%) led, followed by Myanmar (40%).

This indicator is the share who received a permit. It does not show the share who actually worked or their working hours. Part-time work is an activity carried out with permission for activities outside one's residence status under Article 20 of the Immigration Act.

Graduation and employment: 34.3% employment rate, gaps by nationality, field and region

The employment rate of international student graduates, excluding those who left right after graduation, was 34.3%, with 22,576 employed. The employment rate of Korean university graduates was 69.5% as of 2024 ("Employment Statistics of Higher Education Graduates, 2025"). However, the two figures are compiled differently. The international student rate is based on changes in residence status, while the domestic rate is based on criteria such as health insurance enrollment. A simple comparison has limits.

By nationality, employment rates were highest for India, Pakistan and Indonesia, in that order. By number employed, Vietnam (6,495) was largest, followed by China (4,597) and Uzbekistan (1,263). The ranking by employment rate differs from the ranking by number employed.

Differences by field of study were clear. Employment rates were high in engineering (59.1%), medicine-related fields (54.6%) and natural sciences (44.1%). They were low in humanities (24.8%), social sciences (26.7%), education (29.4%) and arts and physical education (23%). By number employed, however, the order was social sciences (8,145), engineering (7,739) and humanities (2,692). Social sciences had a relatively low employment rate but the largest number of employed graduates.

By detailed major, some engineering and pharmaceutical majors, such as molecular and nano engineering (84%) and naval architecture and ocean engineering (80%), had employment rates above 70%. Among the seven detailed majors with the highest employment rates, the numbers employed were highest in chemical engineering (573), advanced materials and materials engineering (352) and energy and nuclear engineering (316). Majors with many graduates, such as business and marketing (27%), media (35%), hotel and tourism (20%), international studies (34%) and foreign languages and literature (26%), had lower employment rates than science and engineering fields.

By university location, graduates of universities in Ulsan (57.4%), South Gyeongsang (51.9%) and North Jeolla (40.5%) had employment rates above 40%. Some regions fell below 30%. By number employed, the order was Seoul (8,563), Gyeonggi (3,109), Busan (1,670), Daejeon (1,303) and North Jeolla (1,186).

Settlement: 81.3% of PhDs leave after graduation, 32% of E-7 switchers settle

Seventy percent of graduates ultimately left Korea. By degree, the share leaving after graduation was PhD 81.3%, bachelor's 71.8%, master's 71.3% and associate 26.4%. The share who switched to work, residence or permanent residency visas was highest among associate degree holders, at 55.1%. All figures are based on stay status in Korea as of March 2026. Reasons for departure, such as whether graduates found jobs in their home country or moved to a third country, are not included in this analysis.

Among master's graduates, 41,915 left permanently. The permanent departure rate was highest among arts and physical education (79%) and natural sciences (79%) majors. Among doctoral graduates, 18,304 left permanently, with the highest rates in arts and physical education (97%) and education (92%).

The ministry also analyzed where graduates stay after finding jobs. Of the 22,576 employed, 54% graduated from universities in the Seoul metropolitan area, and 90% of them found jobs in the metropolitan area. In every region except Gangwon, 50% or more of employed graduates found jobs in the region where their university is located.

Flows also differed by residence status. Among international students who switched to the specially designated activities visa (E-7) after graduation, 32% (3,701) obtained residence (F-2) or permanent residency (F-5) and settled in Korea. Among those who switched to the research visa (E-3), 50% (2,145) left Korea.

Post-graduation visa routes: D-10-1, E-7, F-2

The residence statuses used by international students who stay in Korea after graduation to look for work or to work include the job-seeking visa (D-10-1), the specially designated activities visa (E-7) and the residence visa (F-2). The current requirements under the Ministry of Justice Stay Manual and Visa Issuance Manual are as follows. Every permit is decided after review and is not granted automatically just because requirements are met.

Job-seeking (D-10-1). A person who completes an associate degree or higher program at a Korean university on D-2, receives the degree and then switches to D-10-1 for the first time is exempt from the points system. The first period of stay is one year, and the points system applies at extension. Those who leave Korea and obtain a D-10 visa within one year of their graduation date are also exempt. However, the points system applies to anyone who has previously held D-10. Here, Korean universities are those under Article 2, Subparagraphs 1–4 of the Higher Education Act. Distance-learning universities (such as cyber universities) are not included.

Documents for the first change are the common documents, a job-seeking plan, a degree certificate (or graduation certificate) of an associate degree or higher from a regular Korean university, and proof of residence. Proof of funds for living expenses is not required. Visa applications are accepted only within one year of the graduation date.

Those who received an associate degree or higher from a regular Korean university (excluding cyber universities) less than three years ago and who passed the KIIP Level 4 interim assessment (including placement in Level 5 on the KIIP pre-assessment) or hold a valid TOPIK Level 4 or higher score can obtain D-10-1 without the points system. In this case, the maximum period of stay is three years (one year at a time).

On D-10-1, students can job-hunt and also do short-term internships for which they receive a training allowance before formal employment. When starting an internship or changing the training institution, they must report to the immigration office with jurisdiction over their place of residence within 15 days. An internship at the same company is limited to a maximum of one year at a time. Those who obtained D-10-1 based on E-1~E-7 work experience cannot do internships. There is also a special part-time work rule. It applies to those who received their degree less than three years ago, have KIIP Level 4 or higher or TOPIK Level 4 or higher, and have never stayed on E-1~E-7. The permitted fields are manufacturing and agriculture. Manufacturing is open only to those who completed KIIP Level 4 or higher; TOPIK holders are excluded. Agriculture has no language requirement. Permitted hours are 25 hours on weekdays (30 hours for those who completed KIIP Level 5 or higher), with no limit on weekends and public holidays. The fee for a part-time work permit (permission for activities outside one's residence status) is about $89 (KRW 120,000).

Specially designated activities (E-7). Those who have received or are expected to receive a bachelor's degree or higher from a Korean university can obtain E-7 when they take a job in an occupation open to foreign hires, regardless of their major, if the need for employment is recognized. The one-year-or-more experience requirement is also waived. Graduates (or expected graduates) of Korean junior colleges are exempt from the experience requirement only for occupations related to their major. Degrees from distance-learning universities (such as cyber universities), technical colleges and miscellaneous schools are excluded from this special rule.

Registered foreign nationals legally staying on D-2 or D-10 can switch to E-7 if they meet the qualifications for the occupation and sign an employment contract. Holders of Korean associate or bachelor's degrees can also take jobs in occupations that require "a bachelor's degree + one year of experience," and do not need to submit an employment recommendation letter. Occupations for which an employment recommendation is mandatory are an exception. Holders of a Korean associate degree or higher who completed training under the "work-study program for international students" are exempt from the experience requirement when taking jobs in occupations related to the training. In addition, some occupations have separate special rules for international students in related majors at Korean universities.

There are also requirements on the company side. In principle, E-7 foreign nationals can be employed only up to 20% of the number of Korean nationals employed. Status changes are in principle not permitted for domestic-market-oriented businesses employing fewer than five Korean nationals, or for businesses whose E-7 employment already exceeds 20%. Exceptions include advanced industry fields recommended by the relevant ministry.

The 2026 E-7 wage requirements are an annual wage of about $23,200 (KRW 31,120,000) or more for professionals (E-7-1), about $19,300 (KRW 25,890,000) or more for semi-professionals (E-7-2) and general skilled workers (E-7-3), and about $19,400 (KRW 26,000,000) or more for skilled workers (E-7-4). Some occupations, including 67 occupations, follow separate standards. Those who take jobs at small and medium-sized enterprises, venture companies or mid-sized companies outside the Seoul metropolitan area in occupations subject to a wage requirement of 80% or more of the previous year's per capita GNI, and who have no E-7 experience or three years or less, may be subject to a standard of 70% or more for up to three years. This is not a special rule only for international students.

Residence (F-2). Legally staying foreign nationals who received a master's degree or higher through a regular program in Korea can apply for the points-based talent residence visa (F-2-7) as "study-abroad talent." Whether they currently hold D-2 does not matter. Within five years of receiving the degree, they must have a confirmed job offer or be employed in an occupation corresponding to E-1~E-7-1 or D-5~D-9. Their total assessment score must be 80 points or more, and up to 170 points are recognized. Bonus items include a Korean university degree; those who received bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees receive only the single highest bonus. Bachelor's graduates in principle cannot apply as "study-abroad talent." The exception is nationals of countries that took part in the Korean War who received a bachelor's degree or higher from a regular Korean program and are recommended by the head of a central administrative agency. In that case, they receive up to 40 bonus points and are granted a three-year period of stay when changing status even without a confirmed job. Other bachelor's graduates must separately meet the requirements of another applicant category, such as "professionals" who have stayed on E-1~E-7-1 for three years or more.

Master's and doctoral degree holders from science and engineering-focused universities and research institutes (KAIST, GIST, DGIST, UNIST, University of Science and Technology and others on the list attached to the manual) can switch to the potential talent visa (F-2-7S) with a recommendation letter from the university president, even without a confirmed job and without meeting the points requirement. Recommendation letters are for expected graduates or those within one year of graduation. The period of stay is two years and can be extended up to five years. Extensions beyond five years require meeting the points requirement.

The region-specific talent visa (F-2-R) is run by local (city/county/district) governments in population-decline areas that applied for a quota. Applicants must first obtain a recommendation letter from the head of the metropolitan/provincial government. They must hold a Korean associate degree or higher, or have an annual income at or above the living wage of that metropolitan/provincial government. Education is recognized only when the person entered an institution eligible for D-2, stayed in Korea for two years or more and received the degree. Those expected to graduate within six months of the application date can also apply. Applicants must plan to live, work or start a business in the recommending region for five years or more. Korean language requires KIIP Level 3 or higher (Level 4 on the pre-assessment) or TOPIK Level 3 or higher. The share of the same nationality is capped at 30% of the quota allocated to each local government. Those on Korean language training visas (D-4) and the like cannot apply. D-10 holders are also excluded if their previous status was D-4 or similar. Those who stayed on a region-specific visa or as accompanying family of such a holder within the past five years also cannot apply. A recommendation letter is valid for three months from the date of issue and for one application only. For the first two years after approval, holders must actually live in the recommending region (for some types, the same metropolitan region). Detailed conditions, such as residence and employment types, vary by local government.

October 7 follow-up: council wraps up and "promotion strategy (draft)" posted

In its September 4 announcement, the Ministry of Justice said that since April 2026 the "Public-Private Council on Improving the International Student Visa System," chaired by the vice minister, had been discussing international student policy and improvements to the D-2 system. It said innovation tasks ranging from improvements to the part-time work system to data-based management of international students were scheduled to be announced "in September." It said the analysis results would be used to craft international student policy and immigration policy for regional economic growth. Lee Jin-soo, acting minister of justice, said, "As the number of international students in Korea has reached 320,000 … we will transparently disclose related data and analysis results every year going forward."

The follow-up announcement came on October 7. That day, the ministry issued a press release titled "Ministry of Justice seeks shift in visa policy from 'attraction' to 'growth' in preparation for the era of 400,000 international students." It said the council, launched on April 20 with experts from universities, education and immigration, had completed more than five months of activity and that the ministry was announcing the results of its discussions. The post included "(Attachment 1) Promotion strategy for improving the international student visa system (draft)" and "(Attachment 2) Press release Q&A" as attached files.

The D-10-1, E-7 and F-2 requirements above are based on the November 2, 2026 edition of the Stay Manual and the October 19 edition of the Visa Issuance Manual. If the rules change, check again before applying.

The procedure for the job-seeking visa, the first step after graduation, is covered in our guide to the D-10-1 job-seeking visa after graduation, and regional settlement routes are covered in the region-specific F-2-R visa compared across 10 regions and report on visas for international students settling in the regions. If you are still choosing a university, also see how to find Korean universities that accept international students.

--- Admission, enrollment, employment and settlement figures are based on the Ministry of Justice's "Status of International Students' Stay and Settlement" (September 4, 2026); visa requirements on the Ministry of Justice's "Guide Manual for Foreigners' Stay" (November 2, 2026 edition) and "Visa Issuance Guide Manual" (October 19, 2026 edition); and the follow-up announcement on the Ministry of Justice press release (October 7, 2026).