Socio-Cultural Adaptation of Uzbek Students in Korea

Abstract

This article analyzes the issues of socio-cultural adaptation of Uzbek students studying in South Korea. The factors influencing the choice of Korea as an educational migration destination — high-quality education, modern infrastructure, and opportunities for global academic cooperation — are highlighted separately. The article identifies the main challenges of social adaptation, such as housing problems, language barriers, financial pressure, and the negative impact of part-time work on the learning process. At the same time, Korean culture (K-culture), the experience of trilingualism (Uzbek, Korean, English), and the opportunities offered by scholarship and grant programs are presented as factors accelerating the integration process. The research results show that, despite the difficulties, the process of integration into Korean society plays an important role for Uzbek students in gaining international qualifications and experience, and contributes to Uzbekistan’s modernization process.