Starting from the upcoming summer break, the Company-University Cooperation (CUop) will no longer accept international students. The CUop program is an internship program that aims to provide work and research opportunities for undergraduate students to utilize their knowledge, and to give a chance for the businesses to solve technological tasks and problems they face. Its goal is to create a network of businesses, students, and schools. The program receives applications from businesses and students separately, and then allows the selected businesses to choose from the student applicant pool. It is a program run cooperatively by KAIST, UNIST, GIST, DGIST, and POSTECH. KAIST has the largest number of participants; this year KAIST will accept 73 students, while 138 businesses applied for the program. It provides 3 internship credits for the students who complete the 8 week internship program during the summer or winter break. For some departments, CUop can substitute graduate research credits. The internship is fully compensated by the schools (approximately 4 million KRW for 8 months, before taxation). This summer, the program will run from June 28 to August 20.

While the program had been open to  both Korean and international students, it no longer accepts applications from foreign nationals due to visa issues. The Ministry of Justice guidelines restrict international students from engaging in commercial or employment activities. Receiving any honorariums, prize money, or compensation for everyday activities is prohibited for those on student visa. In case of education related programs, such activities are permitted only if they are mandatory courses required for graduation, or if they received prior permission for optional or elective courses. However, CUop is not a mandatory course. The issue is further complicated by the fact that  CUop is not funded by the individual companies but by the schools via government funding. In accordance with the  relevant laws and guidelines, participation in the CUop is no longer available to international students.