Indonesian Students Flock to South Korea as Numbers Nearly Double
Indonesian students’ interest in pursuing education in South Korea continues to grow. The number of Indonesian students studying in South Korea has nearly doubled over the past decade, rising from 1,353 in 2016 to 2,446 in 2025.
This trend underpinned the recent STUDY IN KOREA Education Fair in Indonesia 2026, organised by South Korea’s Ministry of Education’s National Institute for International Education (NIIED) and the Korean Education Center (KEC) Indonesia at SMESCO Indonesia in Jakarta on 23-24 May 2026.
The education fair aimed to provide comprehensive information to students, parents, and education stakeholders about studying in South Korea, covering degree programmes, scholarships, admissions processes, and international student life.
The director of the Korean Education Center Indonesia stated that Indonesia is a key market for Korean higher education due to its large youth population and growing interest in overseas study.
Fifty-three Korean universities and educational institutions participated in the fair, each setting up information booths and offering one-on-one consultations for Indonesian students considering study in South Korea.
Consultations covered course options, scholarships, university admission requirements, and daily life in South Korea. Translation services were available at each booth to facilitate communication.
Beyond the education fair, the event also strengthened Indonesia-South Korea educational ties. On day one, a special lecture on Korean language education as a second foreign language in Indonesian secondary schools and discussions with school representatives were held.
Day two focused on Korean Studies developments, Korean language education in Indonesia, and study opportunities in Korea, with participation from university representatives of both countries.
Additionally, the event featured a Study in Korea Talk Concert with alumni of the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), who shared experiences on scholarship preparation, course selection, campus life in Korea, and post-graduation careers.
Moving forward, NIIED and KEC Indonesia pledged to expand access to information for international students through the integrated Study in Korea system, online and offline education fairs, and various support programmes and scholarships for foreign students wishing to study in South Korea.