Emergency for Chinese International Students' Entry... First Recommendation to Universities to Postpone Semester Start

Ministry of Education Takes Measures Amid Concerns Over New Coronavirus Spread... Worries About Infections in Group Living Such as Dormitories
Intensive Return from Late This Month... Voluntary Response Decided Due to Differences in Number of International Students

On the 4th, students wearing masks are passing in front of a banner with guidelines for preventing the novel coronavirus infection at Yonsei University in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Ministry of Education has decided to recommend universities to postpone the start of the new semester ahead of the large-scale arrival of approximately 70,000 Chinese international students. This measure is taken due to concerns over the potential spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia). It is the first time the government has officially recommended universities to delay the semester start.

According to the Ministry of Education on the 5th, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye held a meeting with university officials in the afternoon to discuss countermeasures against the novel coronavirus, including this recommendation. The government has already requested universities to quarantine international students who have visited Hubei Province for 14 days and to refrain from holding large events such as freshman orientation (OT). In addition, the government is recommending universities with a large number of Chinese international students to postpone the semester start.

Chinese international students typically return en masse from late February, coinciding with the dormitory move-in and semester start dates after the Lunar New Year holiday. There have been concerns that if they arrive all at once, infections could rapidly spread in communal living spaces such as university dormitories.

Accordingly, many universities in the Seoul area have already decided independently to postpone the semester start by 1 to 2 weeks. Kyung Hee University, which has the largest number of Chinese international students, decided early on to delay the semester start by one week, and Sogang University, Chung-Ang University, and the University of Seoul have also decided to postpone the semester start by about two weeks.

However, the Ministry of Education will not enforce the postponement but will allow each university to autonomously decide whether and how long to delay the semester start. Since some universities have fewer Chinese international students, they are advised to operate according to their individual circumstances.

As the government restricts entry for all foreigners who have visited or stayed in Hubei Province to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection, health authorities are screening passengers at the dedicated arrival area for flights from China at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport on the 5th. / Yeongjongdo - Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

If the semester start is postponed, universities will inevitably have to readjust academic schedules, such as shortening the vacation period or scheduling make-up classes. At the meeting on this day, the Ministry of Education is also expected to discuss regulatory relaxation measures, such as providing online lectures to international students who cannot enter from China, based on feedback from universities.

Entrance ceremonies and graduation ceremonies at universities are also being canceled or postponed one after another. Seoul National University has decided to significantly downscale the degree conferment ceremony (graduation ceremony) scheduled for the 26th, and Yonsei University has canceled all events including the graduation ceremony on the 24th, entrance ceremony, faculty retreat, and freshman orientation. Korea University is also internally reviewing the cancellation of the degree conferment ceremony on the 25th and has decided to cancel the entrance ceremony scheduled for the 28th.

Other universities such as Ewha Womans University, Konkuk University, Sejong University, and Dongguk University have also canceled entrance and graduation ceremonies. Chung-Ang University has decided to combine the graduation ceremony scheduled for the 14th with the August summer graduation ceremony. Hongik University, Hanyang University, and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies are also reviewing the cancellation of entrance and graduation ceremonies scheduled for this month.

A Ministry of Education official stated, "Unlike elementary, middle, and high school students whose health status can generally be checked at home and school, universities have difficulties controlling and managing students. Even if the spread of the novel coronavirus subsides, there is a risk of re-spread as students attend classes collectively in large lecture halls and live in dormitories. Therefore, the situation must be closely monitored until early March."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.