Parents of foreign students can stay in the country until their children reach age 24, up from 20. Shown are students on Sept. 11, 2025, holding the Vietnamese sandwich banh mi they made in class at Seoul Global Youth Education Center in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo-gu District. (Lee Jeongwoo)

By Margareth Theresia

The period of stay for the parents of students in Korea has been raised to until their children reach age 24, up from 20.

The Ministry of Justice on March 6 said that when foreign students attending elementary, middle or high school in the country gain legal residency, their parents or guardians can also stay until such children hit 24.

Taking effect on Feb. 26, this measure lays the legal basis for youth with immigration backgrounds to receive practical assistance from their parents while continuing their studies or building the foundation for independence as new members of Korean society. Previously, such parents could stay only up to a year after their children graduated from high school or turned 19.

The ministry said this system was in response to rising voices on the need of such youth for parental protection and support in preparing for independence like attending university or acquiring job skills. The measure is also consistent in seeking to protect the interests of such youth, it added.

"Foreign children who have lived in Korea for a long time and finished high school here are members of a community whose identity is equal to that of citizens in language and culture," Minister of Justice Jung Sung-ho said. "We will keep developing a residential environment and systems to allow these youths to continue adapting to our society and contributing to national development after reaching adulthood."

margareth@korea.kr