Supporting ‘Busan life’ for foreign students
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Helping with residency, visa issues and part time jobs
Busan City is extending its help for foreign students. The city now offers assistance for overseas students with issues such as housing, visas and finding part-time work, as well as a series of Korean courses to help resolve language problems.
Due to concerted efforts to attract more foreign students to the city, the overall number is increasing every year. As of the end of January 2011, the number of foreign students in Busan had reached 6,144.
The city recently held three discussion sessions with foreign students living in Busan City, with their input forming much of the basis for the new measures.
Among the new services is a consultancy and one-stop service with an exchange lounge, where students can hold meetings, rest, or take one of 48 different Korean classes. The city has also published a booklet with information for foreign residents, started world culture classes, and expanded one-on-one mentoring programs between local and foreign students.
More programs are set to begin in the months ahead, including a scheme that will allow foreign students to visit local companies, the “Busan Life Orientation” for newcomers, networking events, voluntary work placements for domestic and foreign students, and a range of other programs demonstrating Korean culture.
Busan is confident that these programs will help foreign students overcome most of the problems they face due to lack of knowledge of Korean language and customs, such as issues related to study, difficulties with school life, or shortages in living expenses or tuition fees.
In addition, the Busan Global Center, which opened this March, is already providing a complete range of services for foreigners. It offers counseling on visa issues and securing part-time work, as well as one-stop services for necessities such as banking and getting a mobile phone. The center also has Korean classes, providing yet another invaluable service to foreigners as they settle into life in Busan City.
The Source of News: Dynamic Busan
