Vietnamese students were the largest group of international students in South Korea in 2024, accounting for 96,834 individuals or 31.5% of the total, according to Education Ministry data released in August. This makes any new Korean university program especially relevant for them.

Seoul National University (SNU) plans to launch an international‑only division in March 2027. The Korea Herald reported that the division will admit about 36 students each year outside the regular enrollment quota, leaving Korean‑student places unchanged.

The new division will focus on gifted and international schools in Vietnam, China and other markets. SNU’s University College faculty and staff are scheduled to travel to Vietnam in January 2027 to present admissions guidelines to prospective applicants.

According to SNU’s admissions office, both the applicant and their parents must be foreign nationals. Incoming students will first take Korean‑language courses matched to their TOPIK scores before choosing either a humanities, social sciences and arts track or a science and engineering track.

Calls for more consultation have arisen among existing undergraduates, as reported by the JoongAng Daily. Students and staff worry that the program could strain classrooms, dormitories, scholarships and other educational resources, potentially reducing support for current students.