The North American hub of the Study in Korea information center officially launched its operations last October at the Korean Education Center Los Angeles.
This initiative is part of the Korean government’s ambitious project to attract American students to pursue higher education in Korea. The center offers one-stop, tailored guidance for students and parents interested in enrolling at Korean universities.
With the goal of boosting international student enrollment and enhancing educational competitiveness, the Korean government and universities are focusing on attracting students from advanced countries like the United States.
As of April, the number of U.S. students studying in Korea—across universities, language programs, and other training—exceeded 3,100, making the U.S. the fourth-largest source of international students in Korea.
According to Kang Jeon-hoon, President of the Korean Education Center in LA, “The Korean government is investing in the Korean Study Center to provide comprehensive information needed for university admissions in Korea. Prestigious institutions like POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) excel in cutting-edge fields such as science, technology, and IT, which has drawn considerable interest from students visiting our events.”
Korean universities are expanding English-taught courses and scholarship programs, while also offering separate admissions tracks for U.S. citizens.
Lee Sang-beom, the newly appointed director of the Study in Korea information center, emphasized, “Over the past two to three decades, Korean universities have undergone remarkable transformations. U.S. students now view studying in Korea as an attractive international education opportunity.”
The center, located on the second floor of the LA Korean Education Center, features a study-abroad exhibition room, counseling offices, and lecture spaces. It operates with a dedicated team of 11 staff members, including two additional specialists dispatched by Korea’s Ministry of Education.
Park Hye-min, a team leader at the center, explained, “Visitors can access detailed and accurate information about admissions criteria, program characteristics, living conditions, and scholarships for each university in Korea. We provide personalized consultations and ongoing support through phone and email after the initial meeting.”
The center is also building a comprehensive database of admissions information for 350 Korean universities, including junior colleges. This resource, set to launch as an English-language website early next year, will detail programs, the ratio of English-taught courses, scholarship opportunities, and tuition fees.
Son Young-joon, an official from the Gyeongbuk Office of Education, noted, “The Korean government has made attracting international students a national policy. The enthusiasm from American students aspiring to study in Korea is remarkable, and our goal is to provide them with practical, actionable information.”
In addition, 340 Korean language classes are currently offered at 82 schools in the LA Korean Education Center’s jurisdiction. Nationwide, over 15,000 students at 217 U.S. schools are learning Korean language and culture. The Korean Study Center aims to connect this growing interest in Korean education with opportunities for higher education in Korea.
The initiative has garnered strong support from the Korean-American community. Alumni associations of Korean universities in the U.S. are actively building networks and have proposed scholarships for prospective students planning to study in Korea.
President Kang shared, “We’ve even received offers from Korean university alumni associations in Southern California to provide scholarships for incoming students.”
Team leader Park added, “We hope the Korean-American community continues encouraging our youth to connect with their roots through education and support their journey to Korean universities.”
Contact Information:
Phone: (213) 386-3112 (LA Korean Education Center)
Website: studyinkorea.go.kr
BY HYOUNGJAE KIM, YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.ian@koreadaily.com]
