The number of international students enrolled in degree programs in Gyeongsangbuk-do has increased by 49.1% over the past year. This growth rate is double the national average, marking the highest rate among the 17 metropolitan cities and provinces.

According to the "2026 Basic Education Statistics" announced by the Ministry of Education and the Korean Educational Development Institute, the total number of international students in Gyeongbuk stands at 22,456. This represents an increase of 6,347 students (39.4%) from 16,109 the previous year. Ranking 4th nationwide—following Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Busan—Gyeongbuk boasts the largest scale in non-metropolitan areas after Busan.

Among them, students in degree programs surged by 49.1%, from 12,566 last year to 18,736 this year. Undergraduate students accounted for 14,333, while graduate students in master's and doctoral programs focused on research talent reached 4,403, a 51.8% jump from 2,901 the previous year.

An official from Gyeongsangbuk-do stated, "This is the result of simultaneously expanding recruitment scale while structuring the system around degree programs. Because degree-seeking students have the highest potential to lead to employment and settlement after graduation, it is very encouraging that more students are choosing Gyeongbuk aiming for degrees rather than short-term language studies."

Gyeongsangbuk-do has invested efforts starting from the recruitment stage. It operates "Gyeongbuk Academies" in five countries—Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, and Indonesia—to discover international students by teaching them Korean and Gyeongbuk studies locally. The province also holds overseas recruitment information sessions and supports annual university-to-university exchanges.

After enrollment, students continue their education in Korean and Gyeongbuk studies through the "K-Social Course." The "Gyeongbuk-style Invitation Scholarship Program (K-GKS)" provides master's and doctoral international students in natural sciences and engineering with full-semester scholarships on the condition that they settle in Gyeongbuk for three years after graduation.

The pathways leading to employment and settlement have also been broadened. Through the "Industrial Campus Practical Internship Program," now in its second year, the province connects local companies with international students, and has linked the Regional Specialty Visa (F-2-R) with cities and counties experiencing population decline. For the regional visa framework, employment requirements for the E-7 (Specific Activities) visa were relaxed to establish clear pathways for legal residency.

Last August, the Ministry of Education announced the "Innovation Strategy for Cultivating International Student Talent," stating that it will shift the focus of international student policies from expanding recruitment to the growth and advancement of talent. Starting next year, the ministry will intensively support top-performing departments that achieve employment and settlement outcomes linked to local industries. In response, Gyeongbuk Province has established a preemptive response system, including identifying preliminary candidate groups in advance.

Lee Sang-soo, Director General of Local Government Strategy at Gyeongsangbuk-do, noted, "Achieving both an increase in international students and the highest degree program growth rate nationwide means we have not compromised on either recruitment or substance. We will continue moving toward our goal of attracting 30,000 students while focusing our policy capabilities on building a structure where international students can study, work, and live in Gyeongbuk."

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