Ministry of Justice Extends Stay Period for Parents of Foreign Students Enrolled in Korean Schools

Until the Child Turns 24

The Ministry of Justice announced on March 6 that if a foreign child is enrolled in an elementary, middle, or high school in Korea and is granted legal residency, the permitted period of stay for the child's parents or guardians will be extended until the child turns 24 years old.

Reference image. Yonhap News Agency

Under the previous regulations, parents were only allowed to stay in Korea for up to one year after their child graduated from high school or turned 19, the legal age of adulthood. As a result, some have called for an extension of the parents' stay period so that they can support their child while they prepare for independence.

The Ministry of Justice implemented the revised measures on February 26, judging that extending the parents' period of stay is in the best interests of the child, as it both guarantees the child's right to education and allows them to settle stably even after reaching adulthood.

Justice Minister Jeong Seongho stated, "Foreign children who have stayed in Korea for a long period and graduated from high school have developed an identity comparable to that of Korean nationals in terms of language and culture, and are members of our community. We will continue to create residency policies and systems so that these children can adapt well to our society and contribute to national development even after becoming adults."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.