KEY FACTORS OF KOREAN STUDENT STUDYING ABROAD, 1990 - 2012

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to examine the key factors of Korean students studying abroad since 1990 to 2012 by using secondary academic data related to environment factors in South Korea. For example, higher education development policies, Korean attitude on education, support policies from host countries and other related data by using “push” and “pull” factors to determine the possible factors. The findings of this research show that at the beginning of 1990, globalization came into South Korea in order to compete in international level so the government needed to launch plan and policies to follow the new direction plan. Moreover, the government placed an importance of English language learning. This caused a group of Korean parents support their child to study abroad in higher education level for outstanding qualified in the future career. Thus these factors are determined as push factors. On the other hand, the benefits of being a host country made higher competition in international education market. The popular host countries by South Korean students such as the U.S, England or Australia governments also launch policies to recruit more students to their country. Furthermore, as the rapid development of China’s economy created more focus on Asia region. Today more and more South Korean students went to China and other countries in this region.