Three-Stage Support Strategy: Recruitment, Development, and Utilization
258 Billion Won to Be Invested by 2029... 10% Settlement Rate Target
Addressing Local University Crisis and Industrial Workforce Shortages
On May 25, Gwangju City announced that it will invest a total project budget of 25.85 billion won over the next five years, starting this year, to usher in an era of 12,000 international students.
The city has established and will implement the "Comprehensive Support Plan for International Students" (2025?2029). This plan was developed to address the crisis facing local universities caused by the sharp decline in the school-age population and the outflow of young people, as well as to resolve the shortage of industrial workforce.
The city aims to create a virtuous cycle by encouraging international students to settle in the region, thereby securing global talent, strengthening the competitiveness of local universities, and revitalizing the local economy through the supply of workforce to industrial sites. Under the vision of "Gwangju, Your Global Campus?Dreams to the World, Starting from Gwangju," the city has set concrete goals to attract 12,000 international students and achieve a 10% settlement rate by 2029.
To achieve these goals, the city will focus on 13 tasks across three stages: the recruitment stage (region-tailored international student recruitment), the development stage (talent development and student life support), and the utilization stage (support for employment, entrepreneurship, and settlement).
In particular, the city will establish a full-cycle support system for international students, from recruitment to regional settlement. This includes the establishment of the Gwangju Global Hub Center, joint overseas study fairs by local universities, the creation of a regional Korean language center, operation of region-specific curricula, support for industry-linked internships and entrepreneurship, and tailored visa programs.
Next month, the city will launch the "Overseas Talent Recruitment Strategy Council" to strengthen the cooperation system among the public sector, private sector, and academia. The city also plans to systematically manage progress through annual interim and year-end evaluations.
Kim Kisuk, Director of the Office of Education and Youth, said, "This comprehensive plan aims not only to increase the number of international students, but also to enable global talent to pursue their studies and build their careers in Gwangju, growing into core members of the local community. We will focus all our efforts to ensure that Gwangju becomes a truly global campus city, reaching beyond Asia to the world."
As of last year, there were 6,339 international students enrolled in the Gwangju region. The local settlement rate is estimated to be less than 5%.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
