This study explored the structural relationships between social support, cross-cultural adaptation, loneliness, and academic adjustment among Chinese international students studying in South Korea. The final analysis involved 355 Chinese international students enrolled in universities located in Seoul, Korea. The results of this study are as follows: Chinese international students in Korea perceived significant positive correlations between social support, cross-cultural adaptation, and academic adjustment. On the other hand, loneliness showed a significant negative correlation with these variables. Upon analyzing differences based on friendship patterns (i.e., number of friends and frequency of interactions with friends), it was evident that perceptions of social support, loneliness, cross-cultural adaptation, and academic adjustment varied. Loneliness and cross-cultural adaptation were found to fully mediate the relationship between social support and academic adjustment. It is anticipated that these findings can serve as foundational data for the educational field in seeking strategies to enhance the academic adjustment of Chinese international students in South Korea.