Universities Busy Preparing Measures Ahead of 20,000 Chinese Students' Return

Delay Semester Start by 1-2 Weeks and Manage Infection in Dormitories
50,000 International Students Expected to Enter Country by Next Month
Financially Strained Universities Say "Mass Leave of Absence Is More Frightening"

On the 4th, as concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection grow, a notice prohibiting tourist entry was installed in front of the main gate of Ewha Womans University in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As Chinese international students begin to return in earnest, universities are increasingly concerned. Although the start of the semester was delayed by 1 to 2 weeks to buy time, there are still no signs that the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) situation is stabilizing. Fundamentally, infection control issues such as the safety of international students are important, but there is also great concern about the academic impact if a collective leave of absence among Chinese international students becomes a reality.

As the official start of the semester approaches, universities are busy preparing to welcome Chinese international students. Hankuk University of Foreign Studies recently posted messages supporting Wuhan and China on its website and hung Chinese banners at the campus main gate. The message reads, "We are students of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. Stay strong, Wuhan. Stay strong, China." Konkuk University also prominently displayed a message in Chinese on its homepage main screen saying, "Chinese students, stay strong. Konkuk University is with you."

According to Ministry of Education data, as of the 3rd, 9,582 international students have entered from China. No further counts have been made since then. It is estimated that at least 20,000 international students will enter sequentially by the end of this week, after the Lunar New Year holiday. By early next month, when the semester begins, about 50,000 are expected to enter the country.

Universities are individually confirming the expected arrival dates of international students and have allowed first-semester freshmen to apply for leave of absence, which was previously not permitted, exclusively for international students. In some universities, a significant portion of their finances depends on tuition fees paid by Chinese international students, so they are closely monitoring the impact of a collective leave of absence among these students.

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