According to a report by Reuters, the Trump administration has intensified its monitoring of social media posts by international students heading to the U.S., instructing embassies to suspend student visa interview appointments. This move has raised concerns among the parents of Korean students, prompting counseling agencies to advise students to be cautious about their online postings.

Korea is the third-largest source of international students in the U.S., following India and China. "My clients and their parents have been calling me all day wanting to know what is happening," said Park Hyun-tae, head of the Worldnet U.S. Overseas Edu Center, an organization that assists Korean students.

He noted that those who have already scheduled interviews or are about to apply are feeling anxious, but so far, there have been no cancellations of existing interviews. Park expressed concern that the suspension of visa interviews could delay the start of the new academic year, and he advised his clients to handle their social media posts carefully, especially warning male students not to post disturbing images such as grenades or weapons.

Reports indicate that a liberal arts college in the U.S. sent an email to international students informing them that their scheduled visa interviews might be postponed, recommending that they "stay aware of social media dynamics."

Due to intense competition for entry into top universities in Korea, many students are opting to study abroad. One Korean student studying in the U.S. stated that he has friends who are unable to schedule visa interviews and he is also worried about his job prospects in America after graduation. "I believe that the current America is very different from the America of the past," said the student, who asked to remain anonymous.