"Seoul Is the New Paris for International Students, Rising as a Global Study Destination"

[Financial News] The Financial Times (FT) has highlighted Seoul's competitiveness as it emerges as a global study destination, introducing it as "the new Paris for international students." The newspaper analyzed that more international students are choosing Seoul over traditional study destinations such as London, Paris and New York, drawn by a combination of K-culture, the city's dynamic atmosphere, and educational and employment opportunities. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 21st, FT reported in an article titled "Is Seoul the New Paris?" on the 18th (local time) that Seoul is attracting attention from young people around the world as a new study destination. FT noted that international students are increasingly choosing where to study based not only on a university's reputation and employment prospects, but also on broader conditions offered by the city, including its lifestyle, culture and environment. It cited K-culture, diverse food options, the city's dynamic atmosphere and relatively affordable housing costs as Seoul's main attractions.
The number of international students enrolled at South Korean universities has risen 69% over the past three years to 307,500, according to recent data. FT highlighted a Boston University student's exchange experience in Seoul, reporting that the city's international urban lifestyle and opportunities to experience a new culture are being viewed by students from the United States and Europe as attractive study-abroad opportunities.
The international student population coming to Seoul is also becoming more diverse. Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, explained that in the past, most American students studying in Seoul had ties to South Korea or Asia, but that more students are now choosing Seoul without any particular connection to the region.
Seoul's competitiveness as a study destination has also been confirmed by international rankings. Seoul rose to first place in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Best Student Cities rankings for the first time in 2026 and retained the top spot in 2027, ranking first for two consecutive years. QS evaluates cities based on factors including the quality of their universities, student mix, appeal, employment prospects, cost of living and student satisfaction.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government is also expanding policies to support global talent, linking efforts to attract international students with employment, entrepreneurship and settlement programs. In cooperation with leading universities, it is working to attract 1,000 master's and doctoral-level talents in science and engineering. Through Seoul study-abroad fairs held overseas, it has conducted more than 7,000 consultations to date.
The city has established a dedicated employment support desk for international students and is also operating internship programs with artificial intelligence (AI) companies, along with employment and startup programs. It plans to support students' stable settlement by expanding consultation and interpretation services covering daily life, including language, administrative matters, medical care and housing.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said, "Seoul is now growing into a global city where young people from around the world gather to seek new opportunities and experiences, moving beyond their interest in South Korea and Asia. We will continue pursuing a city strategy in which talent from around the world can gather and grow, transforming Seoul into a hub for global talent and a city where young people worldwide can plan their futures."

[email protected] Reporter Seong Cho-rong Reporter