Decrease in Number of International Students for the First Time in 6 Years Due to COVID-19 Impact

First Decrease Since 2014 Low
Non-Degree Programs Like Language Students Down 32.1%

Number of Kindergarten to High School Students Down 2.1% YoY
Only 'Hwanggeum Dwaejitti' Middle Schoolers Show Brief Increase

As the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is rapidly increasing, on the 24th, new international students from Hohai University in Qingdao, China, installed a self-diagnosis app at the dedicated guidance booth for Chinese arrivals at Incheon International Airport. / Yeongjongdo - Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The number of international students decreased for the first time in six years due to the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The Ministry of Education and the Korea Educational Development Institute announced the '2020 Basic Education Statistics' containing this information on the 27th.

The total number of international students (based on enrolled students) was 153,695, a 4.0% decrease compared to the previous year. This decline is the first since hitting a low point of 84,891 in 2014.

International students are divided into degree and non-degree programs. The number of degree program international students increased by 12.8% to 113,003, but the number of non-degree program students, such as language trainees, exchange students, and visiting trainees, sharply decreased by 32.1% to 40,692.

Number of International Students (Provided by the Ministry of Education)

Among all international students, Chinese students accounted for the largest proportion at 67,030 (43.6%), but their share continuously declined by 0.8 percentage points compared to the previous year. Following China were Vietnam (24.9%), Mongolia (4.5%), and Japan (2.1%) in order.

According to the statistics, as of April 1 this year, the total number of students in kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools was 6,010,014, a 2.1% decrease from a year earlier. Only middle school students increased by 1.6% to 1,315,846, which the Ministry of Education analyzed as due to students born in the golden pig year of 2007 entering middle school this year. Kindergarten enrollment decreased by 3.4% to 612,538. Elementary school enrollment decreased by 1.9% to 2,693,716, and high school enrollment decreased by 5.2% to 1,337,320.

The total number of kindergarten, elementary, and secondary school teachers increased by 0.4% to 498,281. With fewer students and more teachers, the number of students per teacher decreased in kindergarten to 11.4, elementary school to 14.2, and high school to 10.1 compared to last year.

The above photo is not related to the article. / Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

However, in middle school, the number of students per teacher increased by 0.1 to 11.8. The number of students per class also decreased in kindergarten to 16.7, elementary school to 21.8, and high school to 23.4 compared to last year, but only middle school increased by 0.1 to 25.2 students per class.

The total number of higher education institutions was 429, down by one. By type, there were 191 general universities, 10 education universities, 136 junior colleges, 47 others including industrial universities, broadcasting and communication universities, cyber universities, and 45 graduate schools.

The total number of enrolled students, including currently enrolled, on leave, and those deferring bachelor's degree acquisition, was 3,276,327, a 1.5% decrease. General universities decreased by 1.0% to 1,981,003, education universities decreased by 0.4% to 15,628, and junior colleges decreased by 3.4% to 621,772.

Provided by the Ministry of Education

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