New guide to Korean society for international students published by Busan University of Foreign Studies
Published: 15 Apr. 2026, 13:08
Updated: 15 Apr. 2026, 15:27
![International students pose for a photo at a culture festival at Ajou University in Suwon on Nov. 7, 2024. [YONHAP]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/15/e83a7e2d-7513-44ae-a26b-1e0b574ec853.jpg)
International students pose for a photo at a culture festival at Ajou University in Suwon on Nov. 7, 2024. [YONHAP]
A new guide to help international students better understand Korean society through media has been published, Busan University of Foreign Studies announced on Wednesday.
Titled “Understanding Korean Society through Media for International Students,” the book was written by Profs. Shin Sun-jong, Yoon Hee-gag and Lee Young-hee from Busan University of Foreign Studies.
“We explained Korean society in an accessible way for international students, tourists and foreign residents in Korea,” the authors said. “It will be helpful not only for foreign learners but also for instructors.”
The total number of foreign residents in Korea reached 2,583,626 as of November 2024, accounting for five percent of the country’s total population. The number of international students enrolled at Korean universities stood at 253,424 as of the end of September 2025 — an increase of 21.3 percent from the previous year, according to the Ministry of Education.
The guide was developed by two professors — Shin and Yoon — with journalism backgrounds and a Korean language education expert, all of whom drew on years of teaching experience, meticulously collected data and reviewed the book multiple times before publication to ensure it is suitable for higher education, the university said.
The guide features 14 topics of high interest to international students, including K-pop, K-dramas and K-movies. It also covers practical aspects of living in Korea, such as transportation and communication, health care and welfare, cities and regions, education and companies and workplaces, alongside broader themes such as context for Korean culture, family and the economy.
Each subject provides references, from recent news articles and expert analysis videos to drama clips, highlighting its role as a media literacy textbook for international students.
The book also includes a vocabulary section that explains Korean terms in English.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
LEE SOO-KI [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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