Busan sets up dedicated support centre for international students, eyes stronger retention and campus integration

Busan has launched a new one stop support centre aimed at easing academic, administrative and daily life challenges faced by international students studying in the city, as South Korea’s second largest metropolis sharpens its focus on becoming a global education hub.

The Busan International Student Support Centre, opened on February 10, will function as a central coordination platform linking universities, local authorities and support agencies. The initiative comes amid a steady rise in the number of overseas students enrolling in Busan’s universities and growing concern over language barriers, settlement issues and post graduation retention.

The centre will offer multilingual counselling, academic guidance, visa and residency assistance, employment related advice and mental health support. Services will be provided both in person and online, allowing students to seek help at different stages of their stay, from admission to graduation and job placement.

City officials said the facility is designed to address gaps in support that individual universities often struggle to manage on their own, particularly for students unfamiliar with Korean administrative systems. By pooling resources, the city aims to reduce dropouts, improve campus experiences and encourage graduates to remain in Busan for work.

According to municipal data, the number of international students in Busan has climbed steadily over the past decade, driven largely by enrolments from Asia and parts of Africa. Many students, the city noted, face difficulties related to housing, part time employment regulations and access to healthcare, issues the new centre is expected to handle through coordinated referrals.

The centre will also run orientation programmes, Korean language assistance, cultural exchange activities and job matching events in collaboration with local companies. Officials said these measures are intended to help students integrate into the community rather than remain confined to campus life.

Universities in Busan welcomed the move, saying a city level support system would reduce administrative pressure on campuses while offering more consistent services to students across institutions.

Busan’s education policy team said the support centre forms part of a broader strategy to position the city as an international education and talent destination, at a time when South Korea is competing with regional peers to attract global students and skilled graduates.

The city plans to monitor the centre’s performance over the next year and expand services based on student feedback, with an emphasis on employment pathways and long term settlement support.