Seoul Global Student Center helps int'l students bridge gap from campus to career

“Every week, Shapolayeva Aisulu spends nearly three hours on a round trip from Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, to the Seoul Global Student Center in Seodaemun District. For the Kazakh student studying in Korea, every minute of the commute is worth it. “Korean language programs at universities can cost over 1.5 million won ($997) per semester, but here you can take nearly the same course for free,” the 24-year-old told The Korea Times. “I recommend it to anyone who wants in-person feedback from teachers or the chance to connect with other students.” Shapolayeva is among the growing number of international students seeking to build careers and settle in Korea after graduation, a trend the Seoul Metropolitan Government is stepping up to support. According to the Ministry of Justice, the number of international students in Korea reached 308,838 as of December 2025, up 17.1 percent from the same month the previous year. A 2023 Ministry of Data and Statistics survey of 188,000 international students found that 63 percent hoped to remain in Korea after graduation. Opened in May right next t

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