This study aims to compare entrepreneurship support policies for international students in South Korea and China, analyze their characteristics and limitations, and propose directions for policy improvement. In recent years, policies for international...
This study aims to compare entrepreneurship support policies for international students in South Korea and China, analyze their characteristics and limitations, and propose directions for policy improvement. In recent years, policies for international students have shifted beyond recruitment and educational management toward closer linkages with employment, entrepreneurship, and long-term settlement. International students can be regarded as potential entrepreneurial talent because they acquire language skills, disciplinary knowledge, local experience, and international networks while studying in a host country. However, their transition into actual entrepreneurs requires the coordinated operation of entrepreneurship education, business incubation, residence-status systems, and settlement support.
This study analyzed entrepreneurship support policies for international students according to three dimensions: entrepreneurship education, business incubation, and residence-status systems. An exploratory comparative research design was employed, combining a review of prior studies with an analysis of official policy documents. In South Korea, the analysis focused on the OASIS startup immigration support system, the D-10-2 Technology Startup Preparation status of stay, the D-8-4 Technology Startup visa, and the Seoul Global Startup Center. In China, the analysis examined innovation and entrepreneurship education for international students, the Entrepreneurship Sailing Program, startup platforms in Zhongguancun, HICOOL, and residence support pathways related to entrepreneurship.
The findings indicate that South Korea has a relatively clear structure linking entrepreneurship education with residence-status systems through OASIS, D-10-2, and D-8-4. Accordingly, South Korea’s policy can be characterized as a visa-system-led entrepreneurship support model. In contrast, China connects international students and overseas entrepreneurial talent with regional startup ecosystems through university-based innovation and entrepreneurship education, local government support programs, and startup platforms such as Zhongguancun. The Chinese policy cases examined in this study can therefore be interpreted as a local-platform-led structure in which local governments and startup platforms play prominent roles.
South Korea’s strengths lie in institutional clarity and the linkage between entrepreneurship education and residence-status systems. However, its limitations include a strong emphasis on technology-based entrepreneurship, demanding entry requirements, and insufficient follow-up incubation and settlement support after startup formation. The Chinese policy cases demonstrate strengths in connecting entrepreneurial resources through local startup platforms and linking entrepreneurs with regional startup ecosystems. Their limitations include the lack of support systems specifically designed for international students, regional variations in institutional arrangements, and unclear residence pathways.
This study is significant in that it views international students not merely as recipients of education but as potential entrepreneurial actors. It also analyzes entrepreneurship support policies through the interconnected structure of entrepreneurship education, business incubation, and residence-status systems. South Korea should broaden its support framework to include more diverse forms of entrepreneurship and strengthen follow-up incubation and settlement support after the acquisition of a startup visa. China should clarify residence pathways related to entrepreneurship for international students and establish a support system that links university-based entrepreneurship education, local startup platforms, and residence-status systems.