International Students as Regional Human Capital: An Analysis of Work-Study Practices and Policy Implications for Regional Settlement

Seongmin Seo and Juno Kim
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Seongmin Seo: Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade
Juno Kim: Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade

Industrial Economic Review from Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade

Abstract: We examine whether international students’ work-study practices in South Korea support the government’s goal of developing regional human capital and promoting long-term settlement. Using survey data and focus group interviews from two universities, we find that parttime employment does not necessarily reduce the amount of time students spend studying and may improve Korean language proficiency. However, most jobs are concentrated in low-skilled occupations unrelated to students’ fields of study, limiting the accumulation of occupation-specific human capital.

The findings suggest a gap between current work-study practices and the policy objective of preparing international students for regional labor markets. We recommend expanding major-related internships, university-industry cooperation, and integrated employment and settlement support services to strengthen the transition from study to regional employment and long-term settlement.

Keywords: international students; work-study programs; study abroad; South Korea; human capital accumulation; human capital development; regional labor markets; regional settlement; student migration; immigrati (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I23 J61 R11 R23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-08-31
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Published in KIET Industrial Economic Review Vol. 31, No. 4

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