Martial law and international education in South Korea: Is South Korea's Goal Under Threat?
In December 2024, South Korea faced significant political instability when President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, a decision that was quickly rescinded by the National Assembly amidst widespread opposition. This brief but impactful episode has had lasting repercussions, particularly on the country's higher education sector, which is vital to its international reputation and demographic strategy. The crisis disrupted South Korea's ambitious goal of attracting 300,000 international students by 2027, a cornerstone of its efforts to counteract population decline and workforce shortages. International students, previously drawn to South Korea for its safety and democratic stability, began to reconsider their plans, with some expediting their departures. The situation highlighted vulnerabilities in South Korea's efforts to position itself as a global education hub, undermining recent achievements, such as surpassing 200,000 international students in 2024. The political tur...