HTUS International Student Center

About

A new semester, a new start

In Spring 2026, 38 international students from 5 countries — Nepal, Philippines, Burundi, Thailand, and Kyrgyzstan — begin their new semester at Honam Theological University.

Bookmark this guide — it covers everything from immigration rules to recycling for your first semester.

5

countries

38

international students

15

weeks of classes

01

Academic Schedule

Spring 2026 (Draft)

Semester begins

2026.03.04 (Wed)

Course add/drop

First week of March

Midterm exams

Mid-April (Week 8)

4+ absences = F

Class weeks

15 weeks

Final exams

Mid-June (Week 15)

End of semester

Around 2026.06.20

Summer break

2026.06.21 ~ 08.31

Fall semester

2026.09.01

※ Schedule is a draft. Please confirm the final version on the academic affairs system.

02

Department of Social Welfare

International Student Track

Background

Korea is entering a super-aged society in 2025 and faces a severe shortage of long-term care workers. The government created the E-7 (Nursing Care Worker) visa to allow Korean-university graduates from overseas to work in elderly care, with up to 400 visas issued annually.

▸Joint Ministry of Justice & Health initiative — international students became eligible from July 2024
▸January 2024 revision of the Caregiver Training Guidelines opened the path for foreign certification
▸Policy direction: place young, qualified foreign professionals in elder care

Career Paths

① Earn Social Worker Level 2 certification → social welfare agency (E-7)
② Complete 50-hour caregiver training → nursing facility (E-7)
③ Continue to graduate studies in social welfare
④ Enter the expanding welfare services market

Bachelor

Bachelor (4 years)

Foundations of welfare theory and practice

Master · M.S.W.

Social work practice / policy & admin tracks

PhD

PhD Programme

Research in welfare areas

03

Alien Registration Card (ARC)

Eligibility & Deadline

All incoming students on a D-2 visa must apply for the ARC in person at the local Immigration Office within 90 days of arrival.

Failure to register may result in fines or visa issues.

Required Documents

· Application form
· Passport + photocopy
· Color photo 3.5×4.5cm (within 6 months, white background)
· Proof of residence (lease, etc.)
· Certificate of enrollment
· Fee 35,000 KRW

Change of Residence

After moving, you must report your new address within 14 days.

· At your district office or Immigration Office
· Or report online via HiKorea (HiKorea)

Living with a Friend

When using a friend's lease as proof of residence, you must also submit their ARC and a Confirmation of Residence.

04

Visa Extension & Part-time Work

Visa Extension

· When to apply: starting 2 months before expiration (late fines apply)
· Documents: application, passport, ARC, plus role-specific extras
· Fee: 60,000 KRW
· Where: local Immigration Office

Part-time Work Permit

⚠ You must obtain permission BEFORE starting work.

Employer docs: business registration, standard employment contract, part-time work confirmation
Academic docs: enrollment certificate, last semester transcript, TOPIK score
English-track students: department confirmation + English proof (TOEFL/IELTS)
Apply via HiKorea online or in person at Immigration

05

Academic Rules · Attendance · Grades

⚠ Critical

Attendance ≥ 80% — Directly tied to your visa

· 15-week semester, 4+ absences in any course = F
· Immigration checks attendance — low attendance is grounds for visa extension denial
· Medical absences require a doctor's certificate
· GPA below 2.0 → academic warning; 2 consecutive semesters can lead to expulsion
· Department scholarships typically require GPA 3.0+

Grounds for Expulsion

Missing registration deadline · failure to return from leave · 1+ months of unexcused absence · double enrollment at another university

※ On leave: you must leave Korea within 1 month regardless of remaining visa validity.

Korean Grading System

Grade	GPA	%
A+	4.5	95–100
A	4.0	90–94
B+	3.5	85–89
B	3.0	80–84
C+	2.5	75–79
C	2.0	70–74
D+	1.5	65–69
D	1.0	60–64
F	0.0	<60

Grades combine midterm + final exams + assignments + presentations + attendance/participation.

06

National Health Insurance

Mandatory enrollment from 2026

All international students with the following visas must enroll in National Health Insurance.

· D-2 (Student visa)
· D-4 (General training visa)
· F-4 (Overseas Korean, if enrolled as student)

Notice

Detailed guidance on fees and payment methods will be announced once NHIS finalizes their guidelines. Insurance certificate upload instructions will follow from IA after semester start.

07 · Emergency

Emergency Contacts

Save these numbers in your phone right now.

🚓

Emergency Police

Police

112

🚑

Ambulance / Fire

119

🌐

Multilingual support

1345

Hospital

Kwangju Christian Hospital

37 Yangrim-ro, Nam-gu, Gwangju 61661

+82-62-650-5000 / 5599

University

HTUS Office of International Affairs

International Student Support Center · 24h available

062-650-1500

🏫 IA Staff Direct Lines

Kim, Han-sang010-8307-5557 Kim, Hyojoong010-9946-3696 Park, Soo Yong010-7200-1625 Junggoog Go010-3506-2368 Jeon, Jae-min010-5005-9061 Park, Ilyeon010-2484-9665

08

Living Essentials in Korea

🏠

Dormitory

Follow curfew & quiet hours · No alcohol, smoking, or outside guests · 2–4 per room, Wi-Fi, laundry, lounge · Student ID required for entry

🚌

Transport

Get a T-money card for subway and buses. One card includes transfer discounts.

📱

Mobile & Internet

Get a Korean SIM/plan. Official activation requires your ARC.

🏦

Banking

Open an account with your ARC + passport. Branches near campus recommended.

Tips for Adapting

· Culture shock is normal. Be kind to yourself.

· Engage with Korean and overseas-Korean students.

· Recommended apps: Papago · Naver Map · KakaoTalk

· Explore Gwangju and stay open to new experiences.

09

Waste Disposal & Recycling Guide

Korea has strict recycling rules — violations can be fined up to 1,000,000 KRW. Remember these 4 rules.

01

Empty It

Fully empty contents

02

Rinse It

Wash off residue with water

03

Sort It

Separate by material

04

Keep Separate

Do not mix with other types

🍎 Food Waste — Golden Rule

"If animals can eat it, it's food waste. If not, it's general trash."

✅ Food Waste

· Fruit peels
· Vegetable peels/leaves
· Rice / bread / noodles
· Fish / meat (small bones OK)

❌ General Trash

· Large bones, nut shells
· Soup / liquids
· Oil / margarine
· Egg / shellfish shells, tea leaves

📅 Disposal Times

· Allowed time: after sunset until 6:00 AM next day
· Collection day varies by district (check with dorm management)
· Buy volume-based trash bags at convenience stores/supermarkets
· Large items require a sticker
· Violations fined up to 1,000,000 KRW

📄

Paper

Remove tape/labels. Receipts, foil paper, PVC wallpaper are general trash.

🥛

Paper Cartons (milk/juice)

Empty, rinse, dry — separate from regular paper.

🥫

Cans

Empty contents. Separate plastic caps. For butane: ventilate and release gas.

🔧

Metal

Nails, tools, pots — remove residue before disposal.

🍶

Glass Bottles

Wash and avoid breakage. Light bulbs, ceramics, mirrors are general trash.

🥤

Plastic

PET: remove label and compress. Separate clear/colored. Pill blister packs go to general trash.

10

LMS Online Courses

Access Procedure

1
Visit the website
http://lmsm.htus.ac.kr · Recommended browsers: Chrome / Edge
2
Sign In
Same ID as the academic affairs system (Haksa) · initial password: 6-digit birth date
3
Enter classroom
Dashboard (My Classroom) → click course name
4
Attend lectures
Select weekly materials to view

Inquiries

LMS Inquiries

062-650-1508

For login problems, connection errors, or material display issues, contact Academic Support.

International Student Orientation Spring 2026