530,000 international students enrolled and 150,000 graduated; Ministry of Justice to issue final report on region-settlement visa reform in September

The Ministry of Justice is discussing visa-system improvements centered on regional settlement and industry links for international students. On July 15, it held the fourth working meeting of the "Consultative Council on Improving the Visa System for International Students" with the Presidential Committee for Local Era and said it analyzed domestic employment and settlement trends among international students enrolled and graduates from 2019 through 2025.

About 530,000 international students enrolled during this period, and about 150,000 graduated. The council addressed support for regional employment and settlement of international students who graduate from regional universities as a key task.

Council launched in April discusses regional settlement this time

The council launched on April 20. Along with the Ministry of Justice and the Presidential Committee for Local Era, participants include the Korean Association of Immigration Policy, the Immigration Policy Institute, the National Research Foundation of Korea, the Korean Council for University Education and the Korea Association of College Education. Earlier meetings discussed part-time employment permission, proof of financial ability, management of study-abroad agencies, employment links for graduate-school graduates and improvement of the job-seeking visa (D-10).

The fourth meeting focused on regions. The agenda included talent development linked to regional industries, region-settlement visas, support by local governments, verification of overseas degrees and diversification of visas for the AI era. Links between online degrees and short-term visas and talent visas tailored to international students were also proposed for review.

What it means for international students

For international students entering regional universities, where jobs are available after graduation and what settlement support local governments or universities provide may become as important as the choice of visa. If the council's discussion is institutionalized, a route may be established that links regional businesses' workforce demand with international students' majors, careers and residence status.

However, the information currently released consists of tasks under review by the council. It is not an announcement that a particular regional visa has been created or that residence conditions for all international students have changed. The Ministry of Justice said it plans to organize the results and issue a final report in September. Until then, applicants should check with the university international office and Immigration Office on the basis of their current residence status and permission requirements.

Items to examine in the final report

When the September report is issued, key items will be eligible groups by region, employment and settlement routes for graduates, local-government support, the roles of universities and businesses, and the effective dates by visa. International students should first check which conditions attach to which region, degree and job, rather than promotional claims that visas become easier merely by going to a region.