How a steep drop in South Koreans studying in China is a symptom of chill in bilateral ties

The number of students from South Korea at Chinese universities and language institutes last year was less than a quarter of its peak of 73,240 in 2017

Observers blame the decrease on tensions between the Asian neighbours as Seoul leans closer to US and China’s image declines among South Korean youth

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Published: 11:00am, 20 Jan 2024Updated: 11:04am, 20 Jan 2024

As South Korean student Kim Si-eun and her friends contemplate their next move after high school, China’s universities – once considered an appealing option – no longer rank high on their list of destinations.

“I think the general perception [of English-speaking countries] is better. Some may think they should go to those countries so they can have better academic careers,” said the 18-year-old Kim, who is applying to universities in South Korea and Canada having completing her third year of high school last year.

“It’s not just about studies. Everyday life in English-speaking countries also seems more convenient and better compared with that in China.”

She said the political tensions between Beijing and Seoul and some of the terrifying tales of Covid-19 restrictions in China had affected students’ decisions.

According to the latest figures from Seoul’s Ministry of Education, the number of South Korean students attending universities, graduate schools and foreign language institutes in China hit a low last year, with only 15,857 as of April, compared with a peak of 73,240 in 2017.

The steep drop was symptomatic of the chill in ties between the two Asian neighbours since South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol took office in May 2022. Under Yoon, the country has leaned closer to the US – a treaty ally – on a wide range of contentious issues such as Taiwan and the South China Sea as well as North Korea.