A survey says 71% of foreign students in Korea want to work and settle in the country. Shown is a scene from this year's Global Talent Fair that ran from May 19-20 at COEX Mall in Seoul's Gangnam-gu District. (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency)
By Jeon Misun
Seventy-one percent of foreign students in Korea want to work and settle in the country, a survey says.
The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, aka KOTRA, on July 1 said this in releasing the results of a study conducted at the recruitment hall for such students of the Global Talent Fair held from May 19-20 at COEX Mall in Seoul's Gangnam-gu District. A combined 88 companies and 356 international students were surveyed.
The main reasons that students cited for seeking jobs in Korea were to "gain work experience in the country" (42%) and "settle down" here (29%).
"Explore foreign markets" (42%) and "diversify the workforce" (21%) were the top two factors cited by domestic companies for hiring such students.
The most popular positions were sales (49%) and research and development (31%), showing how companies are beginning to see foreign students as high quality talent rather than mere laborers.
Among the student respondents, 59% held a master's degree or doctorate and 26% had a science or engineering major, attesting to their high levels of academic ability and expertise.
Meanwhile, Kwangju Bank on July 1 launched the domestic financial sector's first contactless loan product exclusively for such students.
The loan amount range is KRW 1 million to KRW 3 million per person with a minimum repayment period of three months. Eligible are international students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs in Korea from 12 countries: China, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Nepal, Japan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, India and Kazakhstan.
Kwangju Bank on July 1 launched the domestic financial sector's first "untact" (contactless) loan product exclusively for international students. (Kwangju Bank)
msjeon22@korea.kr
