International students in hanbok, Korean traditional clothing, center, play yutnori, a traditional board game, at the Gyeongsan campus of Daegu University on Sept. 21.NEWS1
While the arrival of the Chuseok holiday brings joy and long-weekend plans for many, the season can be a challenging period for those spending it thousands of miles away from family.
“As an international student, I feel homesick particularly during holidays like Chuseok,” said a 23-year-old Chinese student at Korea University.
“Gathering with parents and eating traditional snacks like mooncakes is a big comfort. At times like this, I feel sad that I cannot meet my parents as my Korean friends can.”
For international students, adapting to life in Korea involves more than just navigating campus culture and language barriers. On top of this, mental health — such as overcoming loneliness — has become an increasingly urgent concern as Korea’s international student population has expanded rapidly, surpassing half a million last year.
Around 60 percent of student visa holders — including those with D-2, D-4 and D-10 visas — reported experiencing anxiety or depression, according to a 2025 survey based on data from the National Human Rights Commission of Korea.
To help students adjust to these challenges and manage loneliness, universities, municipal centers and student communities offer targeted support services.
Multilingual support on campus
For students struggling with emotional or practical concerns, university counseling centers offer guidance in familiar languages to help lower the barrier to seeking help.
Hanyang University’s Erica campus operates a dedicated counseling center providing consultations in Korean, English and Chinese through a three-phase system tailored to each student's needs. “When it comes to international students, we seldom conduct sessions in Korean,” a counselor at the center said.
International students pose for a photo with songpyeon, half-moon-shaped rice cakes, and mooncakes received as gifts for Chuseok at Keimyung University in Dalseo District, Daegu, on Sept. 27, 2023.NEWS1
“Despite students speaking rather fluent Korean, expressing emotions or deep concerns differs from daily conversation. That’s why we conduct sessions in the language most comfortable for them.”
Subjects range from cultural adjustment and relationships to career and financial pressures.
Other institutions across Korea provide similar specialized mental health programs.
Kyung Hee University connects students with counselors offering English and Chinese sessions through its Global Education Support Team, where demand remains consistent. Seokyung University in central Seoul has offered department-specific counseling programs tailored for international students since 2023.
Resources beyond the university gates
Support extends outside campus walls through municipal centers and national helplines designed to assist foreign residents across the country.
For those who require immediate help, the government recommends contacting the Danuri Call Center at 1577-1366.
Operating around the clock in 15 languages, the hotline handles urgent crisis situations such as domestic violence and provides real-time translation support for administrative procedures at hospitals or legal offices.
Community and personal routines
Beyond professional counseling, making friends and finding ways to relax can help international students cope with loneliness and feel more at home in Korea.
With the growth of digital platforms, applications like Karrot — a secondhand marketplace app — have also become popular tools for organizing local offline meetups. Users can easily find group chats on the app dedicated to language exchange and making new friends. Specialized language apps like HelloTalk and Seoul-based Maum also help students connect with language partners.
“When I first came to Korea, I explored good food places with my friends, comforting myself with delicious meals,” the Korea University student said.
Campus programs offer another gentle entry point into student life.
“Joining the buddy program was a good starting point for me when I first started living in Korea,” said Sharon Hanrin, a student at Pukyong National University.
International students participating in the summer school program at Hansung University in Seongbuk District, central Seoul, eat samgyetang (Korean ginseng chicken soup) on campus on July 14.YONHAP
The Korea University student echoed the value of peer networks.
“When I was studying at a Korean language institute, I joined a buddy program and made a friend I’m still close with five years later,” she said.
“Through international student associations and other language exchange programs, I was also able to make friends from different countries, which helped ease the sense of loneliness during my undergraduate years.”
Finding personal spaces and routines to recharge is equally meaningful. For the Korea University student, taking time out to enjoy simple moments in the city offers lasting peace.
“I love watching the sunset,” she said. “I go to Nodeul Island with my friends to watch the sunset, listen to acoustic guitar in the background, and take in the pink and orange sky. It really helps me heal.”
