The Challenging Experiences of Nursing Students in South Korea: A Qualitative Inquiry of International Students

Abstract

South Korea is one of the popular destinations for international students to achieve their education. In 2019, due to the development of the Study Korea Project, more than 160 thousand international students were studying at one of the Korean colleges and universities. Due to sociocultural differences (in language, religion, race, and nationality), international students often encounter difficulties caused by discrimination, bias, and stigma during their time in Korea. In other words, while classrooms may be ready for the enrolment of additional international students, local communities, support services, and residents are not. Based on the Social Stigma approach, the researcher collected qualitative interview data of 99 international students from China, Vietnam, Mongolia, Japan and the United States, who are majoring in nursing about their sense-making process and the experiences in Korea. The finding indicated that almost all participants experienced discrimination due to their foreign status, skin colour, language, nationality, and place of origin insides and outsides of the university environment. Furthermore, all expressed negative academic and living experiences in the region and will leave the region once they completed their education. The results demonstrate the necessity for various parties in Korea, including school leaders, government agencies, policymakers, faculty heads, and NGOs, to rethink and reform the country's approach to attracting international students.