Delayed graduations, visa troubles: International students cite university support failures Related Article Korean universities race to attract international students but fail to retain them

As Korea looks to attract more foreign students, some say that inadequate English-language information and limited administrative support have delayed graduation and disrupted career plans. Korea's push to become a global education hub is attracting more international students, but many say universities are falling short where it matters most: administrative support. Interviews with international students at some of the country's major universities reveal recurring administrative problems, from incomplete English-language information and inconsistent graduation requirements to limited academic guidance and language support. Students say the shortcomings have caused confusion, delayed graduation and, in some cases, disrupted career plans. "Now I'm planning to attend medical school in Ireland, but I'm on the brink of having my admission canceled because my graduation has been delayed," said Alizeh Bhurgri, a Korea University student from the United States. "I tried to resolve the issue with the university, but nothing changed. I'm now pursuing the matter through the government's online civil petition system and a lawyer." "Looking back, I think it all started with a lack of information and administrative support," Bhurgri added. English information is often incomplete Many students said one of the biggest obstacles was finding accurate information. As part of the problem, international students pointed to inconsistencies between Korean- and English-language university websites. "It's really hard to find information we need on the English websites because they either provide different information or leave out details that are available on the Korean websites," said Hailey, who asked to be identified by her nickname. Hailey completed her undergraduate degree at Korea University and is now pursuing a master's degree at Yonsei University. "It makes it so much harder for international students to access the same information that Korean students have," she said. "So, we have to rely on translation tools many times, but we are not always sure if they are really correct." A comparison of the Korean- and English-language websites for Yonsei University's Department of Economics found that the English version contained outdated information and omitted some notices available on the Korean site. For example, the Korean website included a notice explaining course recognition and substitution requirements that could affect students' academic planning, while the English website instead displayed information about recipients of the department's 2022 economics awards in the same section. A similar issue was found on Korea University's international website. The university's international office directs students to individual department websites for more detailed academic information. However, the website for the College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, for example, led to an unavailable page displaying the message, "This site can't be reached." 'There was no one to ask' When students could not find the information they needed online, many said they turned to university-hosted events for guidance, only to find themselves excluded from those opportunities. "It was during Covid-19, so I thought there was no orientation, but it turned out there was," said Kiki, a Hanyang University graduate who asked to be identified by her nickname. "As far as I know, most Korean students attended, but international students didn't because many of us didn't even know it was happening." "Once classes started, I could tell domestic students were much more informed because they had gone to those sessions," Kiki added. Other students said they also struggled to obtain information through interactions with professors and university offices. "Back in my home country, it's much easier to approach and discuss things with professors or academic advisers," Anthony, a Yonsei University student who also requested to be identified by his nickname, said. "But here, they...