The 'Spring of Universities' Has Passed… Survival Hinges on International Students

The recent intense conflict between students and the administration at Dongduk Women’s University illustrates this complexity. According to media reports, the issue began when the university administration pushed forward plans to transition to a coeducational system without sufficient prior discussion with students. The situation escalated as students attempted to physically block the initiative, leading to additional disputes over property damage and financial compensation. The opposition, rooted in the argument that allowing male access to a university established to promote women’s education and rights was unacceptable, further intensified the conflict.

This incident, like many others, invites a variety of perspectives. Understanding it accurately requires insights from sociology, gender studies, political science, and communication studies. However, I believe that perspectives from higher education administration and international education are equally indispensable. One of the key arguments from Dongduk Women’s University in favor of a partial transition to coeducation was to enhance departmental and institutional competitiveness. Within the broader context of global higher education trends and the challenges facing South Korean universities, it is understandable why such a change might be pursued, even if the policy implementation lacked thorough preparation.


The Battle for Students: A New Era

It is no exaggeration to say that we are in an era defined by the fierce competition to attract students, including international students. Those in academia who remember the rapid expansion of higher education in South Korea during the late 20th century might recall a time when students flocked to universities simply because the doors were open.

During the 1970s, the number of students pursuing higher education was around 200,000. This figure surged to 1.7 million by 1990, surpassed 3 million around 2000, and peaked at approximately 3.7 million in 2011. These were prosperous times for universities, even earning them occasional criticisms for profiting from application and admission processes.

However, the wave of globalization in higher education that began around 2000 gained full momentum after 2010. With it came university rankings and evaluation systems that upended the dynamics of South Korea’s higher education sector. Around this time, the influx of international students into South Korea began to grow. Initiated in 2005, the Study in Korea project saw foreign student numbers rise from 17,000 in 2005 to 80,000 in 2009, 160,000 in 2018, and over 220,000 by 2023.

This growth in international students aligns with the broader increase in South Korea’s foreign population, which grew from 750,000 in 2004 to 2.5 million by 2023, driven by the country’s economic development and reputation for providing better opportunities compared to neighboring nations.


Challenges Behind: Illegal Stays, Data Discrepancies, and Country Concentration

Despite this growth, several issues challenge South Korea’s international student recruitment strategies: illegal stays, inconsistent statistics between government agencies, and a concentration of students from specific countries.

Illegal stays are a notable side effect of international student policies. While instances declined slightly after 2009, they surged again from 2016 onward, reaching 35,000 by 2023. Many of these cases involve students on D-4 visas (non-degree programs, such as Korean language courses). These students frequently leave their programs or enter the labor market illegally, raising concerns that the Study Korea 300K initiative’s goal of attracting 300,000 students by 2027 may exacerbate the issue.

Inconsistent data between the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Education further complicates policy coordination. In 2023, the discrepancy between the two agencies' reports was approximately 44,000 students—20% of the Ministry of Justice’s figure. These differences undermine the alignment of higher education and immigration policies, hinder accurate assessments, and risk worsening issues such as illegal stays.

Additionally, the overrepresentation of certain nationalities among international students is problematic. As of 2023, students from Vietnam and China accounted for two-thirds of all international students. This concentration raises concerns about the lack of diversity and the geopolitical sensitivity of student recruitment policies.


Commercialization, Commodification, and Instrumentalization

Underlying these challenges are the structural distortions caused by the commercialization, commodification, and instrumentalization of international students. Rather than fostering an ideal educational environment, these policies often prioritize students as revenue-generating entities or metrics for rankings and internationalization. In particular, smaller regional universities disproportionately rely on international students for survival. This has led to well-documented issues, such as insufficient academic rigor and catering excessively to certain demographics to meet financial needs.


Lessons from Japan: Shifting Focus from Quantity to Quality

Japan’s international student policies offer a valuable comparison. Since the 1980s, Japan has emphasized long-term strategies, beginning with the 100,000 International Students Plan in 1983. This initiative was followed by the 300,000 International Students Plan in 2008, which achieved its target by 2019. However, recent years have seen a shift toward stricter qualitative management, such as tighter attendance and employment regulations for students, to prevent visa misuse and enhance their academic and social integration.


Finding Balance Amid Challenges

Returning to the case of Dongduk Women’s University, the conflict reflects broader struggles within South Korea’s higher education sector, including reconciling traditional identities with necessary changes for survival. The incident underscores the fundamental question many teaching-focused universities face: Who will they educate in the future?

As demographic changes reduce the traditional student population, universities are increasingly looking to recruit non-traditional students, including international students, adult learners, and career-changers. While this shift is inevitable, it brings challenges, as seen in the tension between preserving institutional identity and embracing change.

Ultimately, the question remains: Are international students merely a means of survival, or do they represent an opportunity to redefine the vision of higher education? The future of higher education depends on finding a sustainable balance between adapting to change and maintaining core values.


* This is a summarized and translated version of an article published in Korean Education News in January 2025. To view the original article, please visit https://www.hangyo.com/news/article.html?no=103489.

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