Call it the result of the Hallyu wave or the presence of more Universities in international and regional ranking indices, but the fact is that South Korea is rising as a study destination for international students worldwide. In fact, according to data released by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), South Korea welcomed 314,397 international students in 2026, the majority of whom were concentrated in higher educational institutions and Korean language programs. This points to a rise of 15% across the past few years, achieving the target set by the “Study Korea 300K” project introduced in 2025.

The policies that make these impressive numbers possible include those that make English-taught courses more accessible at various South Korean Universities, ease visa requirements, expand part-time work hours for students, and extend post-study work opportunities for international students. As a result, pursuing higher education in South Korea is an opportunity that gives back in bundles. But what is the best time to apply? Does the intake affect one’s program choices or visa application procedure? We’ll answer those questions in this article, so keep reading!