A Chinese language researcher speaks throughout a latest interview at Hanyang College in Seoul’s Seongdong District. Korea Occasions picture by Lee Hyun-ki
A Vietnamese scholar who studied in Korea expressed frustration about spending most of his internship doing duties unrelated to the job description, just because he’s a foreigner.
“I used to be employed as an intern for a software program engineering position, however I used to be shortly transferred to a worldwide enterprise division dealing with Vietnam-related duties. The corporate didn’t give me an opportunity to use my main and solely appeared to anticipate me to function a translator,” he mentioned.
Many worldwide college students share related experiences, dreaming of a “Korean dream” however discovering it troublesome to safe alternatives to work of their subject and settle within the nation.“
“I’m solely doing translation work and making ready assembly minutes. I requested my supervisor for duties associated to my main, however nothing has modified,” mentioned B, a Myanmar nationwide who spoke throughout an internet interview late final 12 months.
B, who holds a grasp’s diploma in ecology from the Chinese language Academy of Sciences, joined a Korean forestry analysis institute hoping to proceed their research in a technologically superior surroundings and achieve subject expertise. Nonetheless, the institute assigned solely duties associated to translation, leaving no room for skilled progress.
Equally, C, a Chinese language scholar with a grasp’s diploma from Sungkyunkwan College, needed to go away Korea regardless of a stellar tutorial report, together with a GPA of 4.21 out of 4.5 and Stage 6 proficiency within the TOPIK Korean language take a look at.
After struggling to seek out employment or acceptance right into a Ph.D. program, C resorted to part-time work at a restaurant earlier than in the end shifting to Japan. “Japan affords higher alternatives for international college students to dream about their future,” C mentioned throughout a digital interview on Jan. 20.
Even those that handle to pursue superior research in Korea face challenges. D, a Chinese language researcher who earned each their grasp’s and doctorate levels in Korea and presently works as a postdoctoral researcher at Hanyang College, expressed related frustrations. “It’s not straightforward to work in academia or discover a job in Korea. The alternatives for foreigners are simply too restricted,” D mentioned.
Overseas college students‘ struggles to safe alternatives in Korea spotlight the urgent want for reforms in authorities insurance policies and shifts in company attitudes towards worldwide expertise. Gettyimagebank
Lengthy-term employment methods wanted
Based on the Korea Superior Institute of Science and Know-how Growth, solely about 30 p.c of international college students with STEM doctorates from Korea (579 people as of 2022) stay employed within the nation.
As Korea grapples with a scarcity of superior know-how specialists, calls are rising for systemic help to assist worldwide expertise settle.
Throughout a Nationwide Meeting audit final 12 months, Rep. Choi Soo-jin of the ruling Folks Energy Social gathering mentioned, “To advance in cutting-edge fields like semiconductors and AI, international researchers are important. The federal government should transcend attracting expertise and supply help for employment and settlement.”
A shift in company views can also be essential. Jang Hye-jin, head of a international employment consulting platform, mentioned, “Firms must create extra internship alternatives for international college students to realize expertise throughout their research.”
Choi Search engine optimisation-ri, a researcher on the Migration Analysis Institute, mentioned, “Industries lack expertise in hiring foreigners. Firms should think about the way to combine international expertise not quickly however as a part of a long-term technique.”
This text from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Occasions, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Occasions.
