▶ ‘Open Door’ annual report total of 43,149 people, a decrease of 1.6% from the previous year
▶ The number of undergraduate students and graduate students decreased by 8% and graduate students by 2.5%, as the pre-coronavirus level has not yet recovered.
[자료: 오픈도어 보고서]
The number of Korean students in the U.S. appears to have declined again for the first time in three years.
According to the ‘Open Door’ annual report released by the Institute for International Education (IIE) on the 18th, the number of Korean international students attending universities, graduate schools, and language schools in the United States in the 2023-2024 academic year totaled 43,149, a 1.6% decrease from the previous year.
This means that the number of students has not yet recovered to the level of 52,250 in the 2018-2019 school year before the COVID-19 incident.
The number of Korean students studying abroad appears to be decreasing overall after recording 73,351 in the 2010-2011 school year. In particular, in the 2020-2021 school year, when the COVID-19 incident was severe, the number dropped dramatically to 39,491, down to the 30,000 level.
Afterwards, as the COVID-19 situation calmed down, the number recovered to around 40,000, but it began to decline again in the 2023-2024 school year.
In a comparison of international students in the U.S. by nationality, Korea remains the third largest country after India (331,602) and China (277,398).
However, the proportion of Korean nationals among all international students in the U.S. was around 3.8%, down 0.3 percentage points from the previous year’s figure of 4.1%.
A detailed analysis of the status of Korean students studying abroad in the 2022-2023 school year shows that the number of undergraduate students decreased by 8% from the previous year to 17,760, and the number of graduate students decreased by 2.5% to 14,930.
On the other hand, non-degree programs such as language schools numbered 2,685, a 3.7% increase from the previous year. Additionally, the number of people enrolled in ‘OPT’ (Overseas Student Employment Training Program) for employment after graduating from college or graduate school increased by 17% to 7,774.
By visa type, the number of student visas (F) obtained decreased by 11.3% from the previous year, while the number of J visas for exchange students or short-term interns increased by 8.3% compared to the previous year.
By state, the largest number of Korean students studying abroad was in California, followed by New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Texas.
Meanwhile, according to this Open Doors report, India is drawing attention as it has surpassed China and risen to first place in the ranking of international students in the United States by nationality for the first time since 2009. China, which had held the undisputed first place in the number of students studying abroad in the U.S., decreased by 4.2% from the previous year, while the number of students from India increased by 23.3% compared to the previous year.
In addition, according to the Open Door report, the total number of international students in the United States for the 2023-2024 school year was 1,126,690, an increase of 6.6% from the previous year, the largest ever. Analysis suggests that the significant increase in the number of international students coming to the United States from South Asian and African countries has led to an increase in the overall number of international students.
Reporter Seo Han-seo>
What are the main reasons contributing to the decline in the number of Korean students studying abroad according to the recent ‘Open Door’ report?
Dear Guests, thank you for joining us today at World-Today-News.com for an interview about the recent decline in the number of Korean students studying abroad, as reported in the ‘Open Door’ annual report.
Guest 1, can you explain the possible reasons behind this decrease in the number of Korean students studying abroad? And what do you think could be the impact of this trend on the future of international education and student mobility?
Guest 2, could you share your insights on how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced Korean students’ decision to study abroad? Do you anticipate that the situation will improve in the coming years, or are there other factors that might contribute to the decline in student mobility?
Moving on to the thematic section of visa categories, Guest 1, how significant is the decrease in the number of student visas (F) obtained by Koreans? Can you discuss any challenges or changes in the visa application process that might have led to this decline?
Guest 2, what role do you see J visas playing for Korean students who seek short-term internships or exchange programs abroad? Are there any new opportunities or challenges associated with these visa categories?
Lastly, Guest 1, could you give us your thoughts on the future of Korean students studying abroad? Do you think the decline in numbers is merely a temporary setback or a long-term trend? And what measures can universities and governments take to attract more students back to international education?
Thank you both for your time and insights. We value your expertise and perspective on this important topic.
