International Students Population in South Korea Up By 14.2%; More Immigrants May Resolve Scarcity of Manpower

The Ministry of Education's yearly statistics revealed that the population of international students in South Korea is already over 100,000.

A 14.2% increase from last year was noted resulting to a headcount of 104,262 foreign students registered in local universities. Meanwhile, 1.7% increase or a total of 99,186 international gradeschoolers was pointed out in this year's list.

According to the reports of Korea Times, majority of these international students are born in the country with at least one foreign parent. Most non-Korean parents are from Vietnam followed by China, Japan and the Philippines. Based on statistics, the growth in the number of international students will continue in the coming years.

The number of students enrolling has been decreasing for the past years. One of the culprits behind the deflation of student population is the low birth rate in the country. This is considered as an economic threat since South Korea's growth greatly depends on manpower.

To resolve these, the government has made adjustments to consider and accept more immigrants to boost its workforce. It is concluded that approximately 15 million foreigners are needed to sustain the manpower needs of the country.

Apart from admitting more foreign workers to the country, the state also offers welfare and financial benefits to couples to encourage them to help in improving the birth rate of the nation.

An average woman of the country is expected to bear 1.187 babies in a lifetime which makes South Korea the fifth nation with lowest fertility worldwide. Business Insider reported that "a 2014 study commissioned by the national legislature concluded that South Koreans could face natural extinction by 2750 if the birth rate were maintained at 1.19 children per woman - assuming no reunification with North Korea or significant inflow of migrants."

On the same study, the capital city, Seoul may go extinct by 2505.