Busan is good

Study in Busan: Captivating the Hearts of Central Asian Talent!

내용

Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Park Heong-joon, announced that the “2026 Central Asia Study in Busan Information Sessions,” held in Almaty, Kazakhstan and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan from May 27 to June 3, concluded successfully.

The information sessions were one of the key initiatives of the city’s “Study Busan 30K Project,” organized in Central Asia, where demand for overseas study continues to grow steadily, with the goal of proactively securing global talent through the diversification of recruitment countries.

The Study Busan 30K Project is being pursued under the vision, “Busan, a Great City for International Study, Advancing as a Global Hub City!” By 2028, the project aims to: ① attract 30,000 international students, ② increase the proportion of science and engineering students to 30 percent, and ③ achieve a 40 percent conversion rate from study visas to employment or job-seeking visas.

The event featured participation from 11 universities in Busan. Recruitment activities tailored to local needs were conducted through the information session in Almaty on May 29, attended by 10 universities, and the session in Bishkek on June 2, attended by 9 universities. Approximately 2,000 prospective students and parents visited the venues, demonstrating strong interest in studying in Busan.

• ●Kazakhstan (Almaty): Kyungsung University, Kosin University, Korea Maritime & Ocean University, Tongmyong University, Dongseo University, Dong-Eui Institute of Technology, Dong-eui University, Busan Institute of Science and Technology, Pusan National University, and Silla University

• ●Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek): Kyungsung University, Kosin University, Korea Maritime & Ocean University, Tongmyong University, Dong-Eui Institute of Technology, Dong-eui University, Pusan National University, Busan University of Foreign Studies, and Silla University

Centered around the Study Busan Hub, which opened in February, the city actively promoted Busan’s support policies for international students while highlighting the city’s unique strengths, including stable living conditions, an outstanding natural environment, and rich cultural infrastructure, thereby strengthening integrated city-level branding.

In particular, in Almaty, a key Central Asian city, and Bishkek, a newly targeted recruitment destination, Busan Metropolitan City and the Busan Global City Foundation introduced international student support policies based on the integrated support hub model. They also promoted university-specific programs for international students, facilitated exchanges among education stakeholders, provided career-oriented study-abroad consultations, and operated networking programs with Kazakh students currently studying in Busan, receiving enthusiastic responses from local participants.

To strengthen international student recruitment networks in Central Asia, the city also held meetings with local school principals in Almaty on May 28 and Bishkek on June 1.

Organized in cooperation with local Korean Education Centers, the meetings were attended by principals from 13 schools in Almaty and 15 schools in Bishkek. Participants discussed sustainable cooperation measures, including regular online study-abroad information sessions involving Busan and local universities, as well as invitation programs to Busan.

Kim Gui-ok, Director General of the Youth and Industry-Academia Cooperation Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, stated, “Through these Central Asia study-abroad information sessions, we were able to confirm the strong local interest in Busan’s excellent global education infrastructure and the city’s appeal. We will continue to expand overseas networking efforts and actively support outstanding international talent so they can choose Busan and grow together as members of our local community.”