As South Korea faces a significant population decline, the country is recognizing the urgent need to develop foreign students into vital future talent. Sejong University will conduct the '7th ISF Spring 2026 International Student Career Fair & Startup Forum' on March 25, in partnership with the global student-focused platform Stuvisor and the career startup platform Careertus. This initiative aims to create a collaborative platform between universities and the industry to address the demographic challenges threatening the country's workforce.

The severity of South Korea's population crisis is highlighted by a historically low total fertility rate of 0.72 in 2023, projected to reach 0.80 in 2025, marking it as one of the lowest globally. This demographic decline is leading to a labor shortage, which underscores the rise of securing high-quality foreign talent as a critical national task. The government's initiative to attract 300,000 international students, known as 'Study Korea 300K,' is part of a broader strategy not only to internationalize universities but also to support the sustainable development of the local industry through careful population policies.

In response to existing structural limitations in the connection between attracting international students and their subsequent employment, entrepreneurship, and settlement in South Korea, Sejong University operates the International Student Futures (ISF) platform. It is the only platform in the country that comprehensively supports the entire career journey of international students post-education, going beyond traditional job fairs to encompass pathways for further studies, job placements, startups, and settling down. This forum will offer various programs including on-site hiring interviews, consultations for university applications, investor meetings, and support services for settling in, ultimately aiming to create an integrated ecosystem for international students.