Students Face Setback as Government Halts Study Permits to South Korea

Students dreaming of studying in South Korea have been hit with disappointing news, the government has stopped giving permission letters (NOC) for language and undergraduate courses there.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology announced that it has temporarily paused issuing NOCs for students going to South Korea under D-2 (for university) and D-4 (for language school) visas. The ministry said a task force will now study the situation and give recommendations before making any further decision.

Why the sudden pause? The government says many students are choosing jobs over education once they reach Korea. Some are joining universities with very few study hours, while others are even ending up in institutions that the Korean government has blacklisted. This is creating serious problems, not just for their studies, but also for their mental well-being.

The ministry also pointed fingers at some consultancies. It said students are often misled with promises that they’ll easily find work in Korea, even illegally. But once there, things don’t go as planned, and many students face stress, pressure, and hardship.

Until the task force gives its report, NOCs for South Korea will remain on hold, a move the government says is meant to protect students from future trouble.