Vocational high schools struggle to attract international students as visas get rejected
Published: 17 Mar. 2026, 16:23
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- LEE TAE-HEE
- [email protected]
![Students wait for interviews during a job fair for vocational high school students held in Jung District, central Seoul, on June 11, 2025. [NEWS1]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/03/17/192fcf72-48a4-4980-8be5-f6c0072c1b72.jpg)
Students wait for interviews during a job fair for vocational high school students held in Jung District, central Seoul, on June 11, 2025. [NEWS1]
Despite many regional educational offices' plans to invite international students to study at their vocational high schools, less than one-third of students received visas this year, as the government says a tighter safety net is needed.
Of the 227 international students selected by local offices of education to start studying in vocational high schools in 2026, only 60 students, or 26.4 percent, received the D-4-3 visa to study in Korea, according to a report by the National Assembly Research Service on Tuesday. The D-4-3 is a general training visa issued to foreigners attending elementary, middle and high schools, typically given to children of diplomats or working expats.
According to the report, the international students’ visas were denied by the Ministry of Justice for reasons such as an unclear purpose of study and entry, as well as insufficient documentation to demonstrate their intent to study.
Breaking it down by region, the Jeollanam-do Office of Education selected 115 international students to join their vocational high schools this year, while only 15 received the student visa. The Gyeongsangbuk-do Office of Education selected 65 international students, while only 32 received visas. The Chungcheongnamdo Office of Education selected 26 students, while only nine received visas, and the Jeonbuk State Office of Education selected 17 students, but none received visas.
The Gangwon State Office of Education selected four international students, and was one exception in which all four students received their visas.
Regional governments started to invite international students to study at their vocational high schools through the D-4-3 in 2024, with the Gyeongsangbuk-do Office of Education inviting 45 students from Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Mongolia. The initiative was introduced by local governments in hopes of increasing their student populations, as well as having the students settle down in the region by offering career support after graduation. High school tuition is free, like for other Korean students, and students live in the high school's dorms.
However, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea and the Ministry of Justice held meetings with officials from local offices of education in June and September 2025, stating that the issue requires careful consideration, as high school students are minors. The government organizations also raised concerns about promoting study abroad for children while suggesting it could lead to employment opportunities, and tightened visa screening starting in October that year.
The National Assembly Research Service report suggested the need for an official guideline outlining how to manage the students and issue their visas, as well as the students having a proper guardian from their family, rather than volunteers assigned by local governments.
Although vocational high schools offer Korean classes for international students, the report suggested that more classes are needed to help the students learn properly. It also suggested creating a visa that allows students to work after graduation. Currently, the E-7 work visa can't be obtained after just graduating from high school, as at least an associate degree is required if the candidate is set to get a job in the field of their major.
BY LEE TAE-HEE [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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