South Korea

South Korea, an East Asian nation on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, shares one of the world’s most heavily militarized borders with North Korea. It’s equally known for its green, hilly countryside dotted with cherry trees and centuries-old Buddhist temples, plus its coastal fishing villages, sub-tropical islands and high-tech cities such as Seoul, the capital. Education System Structure in South Korea is, Children between the ages of six and 15 are required to attend school in South Korea. There are six years of primary school, three years of lower secondary school and three years of upper secondary school, which is either academic or vocational.

 South Korea, an East Asian nation on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, shares one of the world’s most heavily militarized borders with North Korea. It’s equally known for its green, hilly countryside dotted with cherry trees and centuries-old Buddhist temples, plus its coastal fishing villages, sub-tropical islands and high-tech cities such as Seoul, the capital.

Capital: Seoul

Area: 100,210 km²

Population: 51.64 million (2018) 

Official Language: Korean

Currency: South Korean won

Gross domestic product: 1.619 trillion USD (2018) 

GNI per capita: 40,090 PPP dollars (2018) 

GDP per capita: 31,362.75 USD (2018) 

GDP growth rate: 2.7% annual change (2018) 

Gross national income: 2.07 trillion PPP dollars (2018) 

Internet users: 81.5% of the population (2011) 

10 reasons why you should study in South Korea

Deciding where to study is a tricky decision. It can seem overwhelming to pick one country when you have the whole world to explore. There may be countries you haven’t even considered yet. South Korea is one of the most diverse and interesting countries to study in as an international student.

Here are ten reasons why it is worth at least considering studying in South Korea:

1. Cheap cost of living : Living in South Korea, on average, is very cheap. This includes the cost of accommodation, food and transportation. For example, a taxi ride costs roughly ₩1150 (US$1) per kilometre.

3. Excellent education institutions: South Korea is renowned for its universities. The three largest world-recognised universities are Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University. The universities all have high postgraduate employment rates and excellent reputations. South Korea also boasts the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and Sungkyunkwan University which are lesser known but equally impressive institutions.
4. Incredible food: Students’ top two priorities for food tend to be: a) cheap and b) convenient. It is a bonus if the cheap and convenient food is rather tasty too. Korean food ticks all three boxes. The culture in South Korea revolves heavily around food, with many social gatherings having food as the focal point.
5. Varied and thriving nightlife: The country has a vibrant nightlife, with a ‘work hard, play hard‘ attitude. Many clubs are themed which can provide an interesting night out and most stay open until the early hours of the morning.

5. Kind people: Korean students are incredibly welcoming to their international peers. They are often keen to share Korean culture with those unfamiliar with their country so you will learn all the best bits about living in the country from experts.

6. Opportunity for travel: South Korea is very well located. It is within close proximity to many Asian countries including China and Japan. With the cheap travel costs, it is relatively easy to travel to them.

7. Stunning scenery: Dongbaek island and Gwangan bridge at sunset in Busan,South Korea.  If you’re looking for scenery, it doesn’t get much better than South Korea.

8. Perfect balance between traditional and modern: If you want a mix of old traditional buildings and modern complexes and amenities then South Korea is the place for you. The country sports tall glass skyscrapers and traditional temples. It is not uncommon to see the two side by side.

9. Language: Most universities in South Korea offer language lessons alongside their courses. The classes vary in levels of difficulty so you can go in as near bilingual or a complete beginner.

10. High standard of living: South Korea is Asia’s fourth-largest economy and one of the world’s leading financial centres. It has remained relatively unscathed during the recession and has rapid economic growth, making it a promising place to live, work and study.

More notes for South Korea

South Korea is a country in Eastern Asia occupying the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. It borders the Sea of Japan, the Yellow Sea, and North Korea. South Korea's terrain is mostly mountainous. To study in Korea in English, you will need to take either the TOEFL or the IELTS. These are the required minimum scores to study in Korea: At the undergraduate and masters level, a minimum score of TOEFL 71 and IELTS 5.5 is required. At the PhD level, a minimum score of TOEFL 79 and IELTS 6 is required. Korea University in South Korea requires students to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.8 in order to stand a good chance to get admission into Korea University. Students must also participate in other activities like sports, lead some projects, community services to improve chances of admission.

The South Korean government has fixed the minimum wage at 9,620 won, approximately Rs998, per hour, a five percent increase from 2022. With the increment, those working 209 hours a month will earn 2,010,580 won (around Rs208,696).

Reasons to study in South Korea

• Affordable Education
• Globally Recognized Degrees
• Educational Opportunities
• Quality Education
• Cost
• Job Opportunities
• Language
• Scholarships