Why Are International Student Numbers Soaring on Campus?... National Pukyong University Sees Results in Attracting Students from Developing Countries

22-Fold Increase in Kazakhstani Students in a Decade
Results of Tuition Support Through the Global Pukyong Scholarship

Why has the number of Kazakhstani international students on campus increased by 22 times? While the overall number is not particularly large, it has grown from just one student a decade ago to 22 students this year.

The "Global Pukyong Scholarship" program, operated by National Pukyong University (President Bae Sanghoon), is showing clear results in attracting international students.

According to National Pukyong University, the number of Kazakhstani students increased from one in 2013 to 22 as of April 2025, a 22-fold rise. During the same period, the number of students from Myanmar grew from 13 to 187, a 14-fold increase, and those from Uzbekistan rose from 7 to 58, an 8-fold increase.

While the total number of international students, including undergraduate, master's, doctoral, exchange, training, and dual degree programs, has roughly doubled from 946 in 2013 to 1,648 this year, the growth rates for these three countries are particularly notable.

Pukyong University attributes these results to the "Global Pukyong Scholarship" program introduced by the Office of International Affairs in 2013. This scholarship provides four years of tuition and health insurance for outstanding students from underdeveloped and developing countries. So far, a total of 59 students from Kazakhstan, Myanmar, and Uzbekistan have been recommended and admitted to Pukyong University. In the second semester of this year, an additional student from Kazakhstan is expected to enroll.

Pukyong University explained that Global Pukyong Scholarship recipients play a key role in attracting more international students by recommending the university to others based on their own study abroad experiences, acting as "pro-Pukyong" ambassadors. The university also expects that these students will enhance the institution's reputation in their home countries after graduation.

Suh Jaechul, Director of the Office of International Affairs, stated, "Since our efforts to attract international students are clearly reflected in the data, we will further expand scholarship benefits and broaden our recruitment to include cities with friendly relations with Busan, in order to attract more outstanding international students."