Korean student in Qld kicked, robbed

A Korean student was knocked out by a kick to the head in a "sickening" Gold Coast assault, police say.

The student was sitting outside a karaoke bar with a friend in a Southport mall when they were approached by two men on Tuesday night.

Detective Acting Inspector Mark Procter said one of the men struck up a conversation as the other stepped behind the victim.

The attacker then delivered a swift kick to the side of the student's head before rifling through his pockets and stealing his wallet and phone.

Det Insp Procter described the attack as "very sickening" that took the one-punch blow notion to a violent new level.

Police have released council video from the mall to help identify the offenders.

"It's obvious (given) the level of violence, we'd like to get these people off the streets," he said.

The friends, who are in their early 20s, were simply enjoying a night out when they were approached.

The attackers walked off after the brutal assault, which saw the victim briefly hospitalised, Det Insp Procter said.