Foreign media reports have highlighted that Seoul is emerging as a new study abroad destination capturing the attention of young people worldwide, surpassing traditional student hubs like London, Paris, and New York.

The UK's Financial Times (FT) published an in-depth piece on its weekend edition on September 18 titled "'New Paris' for Global Students," shedding light on Seoul's rise.

The outlet highlighted several key appeals of Seoul, including the global popularity of Korean culture such as K-pop, along with its dynamic urban lifestyle, food, scenery, and relatively affordable cost of living.

This reflects a growing trend among students who prioritize lifestyle, urban environment, and novel experiences—rather than solely university prestige and career prospects—when choosing where to study.

In fact, the number of international students enrolled in South Korean universities has surged by 69 percent over the past three years to reach approximately 307,000. Unlike in the past, an increasing number of students from the United States and Europe with no prior ties to Korea are heading to the country.

Previously, Seoul proved its changing status by ranking first for two consecutive years in the QS Best Student Cities evaluation by the UK higher education analytics firm.

The city introduced that this shift is being driven by global talent attraction and settlement policies, which have been promoted as a key initiative since the 8th popular election term of the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Furthermore, the city announced plans to expand cooperation with universities, corporations, and private institutions to strengthen policy linkages, enabling international students and young talent to enjoy studies, jobs, entrepreneurship, and cultural life in Seoul while engaging with the local community.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon stated, "Seoul is growing into a global city that offers new opportunities to young people around the world." He added, "We will further enhance Seoul's unique urban competitiveness where culture, education, industries, and jobs create a virtuous cycle, continuously pursuing strategies to attract and nurture global talent."

(Photo: Capture from FT, Yonhap News)