South Korean Students Moving Overseas To Study Drop By A Third In Over 8 Years

A tally conducted by the Ministry of Education and the Korean Education Development Institute showed that the rate of young South Koreans studying overseas has dropped by a third in more than eight years, attributed to the nation's improving English education system, reported Korea Times on Thursday.

In 2014, a total of 10,907 primary and secondary school students reportedly moved abroad to study, a decrease by 12 percent from 12,374 students in 2013. The figure is approximately one-third of 2006's, which holds the highest count at 29,511, where 35.2 in 10,000 students were reportedly studying overseas.

"In the past, many people thought studying abroad at an early age would lead to entering foreign colleges and help with getting jobs, but those advantages have declined," said a ministry official.

According to Korea Herald on Nov. 17, the trend of sending students overseas to study became popular among parents in the 2000s and gradually declined from 2007 to the financial crisis in 2009 until 2014.

If the declining figures continue, education officials forecasted an estimate of less than 10,000 students studying overseas in 2015. This is due to the growing mentality in students that studying abroad does not guarantee better paying jobs back in South Korea.

"Back in previous days, students believed that studying abroad would help them get a better job," noted officials from the Ministry of Education. " ... But those benefits don't seem to exist anymore. Also, there are many domestic schools where students can learn English (without young students going abroad)."

"I thought the applicant like me who speaks fluent English and has work experience would have little trouble getting a job in Korea," said a 30-year-old South Korean who has studied in the U.S. and has applied to over 30 companies in South Korea. "Now I am afraid that my 15-year endeavor in the U.S. will come to nothing."

The department of human resources in most South Korean firms also agree that having completed education overseas does not automatically grant individuals better jobs than their competitors who do not have overseas educational background.

"Admittedly, companies are worried whether those who have graduated from colleges overseas would adjust to Korea's unique working environment," said a recruiter from a South Korean retail conglomerate. "If all things are equal among the applicants, I would prefer those who are familiar with Korea's work ethics."