Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education to Select 76 Overseas Talents for Vocational High Schools Next Year

International Students from Vietnam and Four Other Countries Complete 'Korean Language Education'

The Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education announced on the 15th that it has selected 76 international students from 5 countries to enroll in vocational high schools next year.

According to the Office of Education, outstanding overseas talents from 5 countries were selected for five vocational high schools in the province: Mokpo Girls' Commercial High School (24 students), Gurim Technical High School (24 students), Jeonnam Life Science High School (10 students), Korea Horse Industry High School (10 students), and Wando Fisheries High School (8 students).

Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education building. [Photo by Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education]

By country, the students come from Vietnam (34), Mongolia (30), the Philippines (4), Indonesia (4), and Cuba (4). These 76 students are scheduled to enroll in each vocational high school for the 2025 academic year.

The students selected from each country are receiving Korean language education at local Sejong Institutes, Korean language schools, and others. If they pass the Korean Language Proficiency Test scheduled for December, they will receive specialized vocational education as well as Korean language and culture education for three years at vocational high schools in Jeonnam.

The Office of Education is preparing a collaborative system to support stable school life for outstanding overseas talents, including Korean language education and life guidance measures.

Additionally, to attract outstanding overseas talents, the Office plans to progressively recruit 76 outstanding students for vocational high schools and 90 outstanding students for the tentatively named Jeonnam International Vocational High School. After this process, the tentatively named Jeonnam Glocal Vocational High School is scheduled to open in March 2028.

Jung Byung-guk, Director of the Education Autonomy Division, stated, “We will spare no effort to support outstanding overseas talents so that they can adapt well to school life, acquire professional skills, find employment in local industries, and settle in Jeonnam.”