South Korea will start granting K-culture training visas to foreigners this year on a pilot basis, as revealed by the country’s Ministry of Finance.
Such a type of visa was announced in December 2023 and is designed for young foreigners interested in Korean culture, VisaGuide.World reports.
The eligible applicants include those who wish to visit South Korea and attend training programs on K-pop, choreography, and other cultural fields, as reported by the Yonhap News Agency.
This move is part of several measures announced recently by the ministry, including easing entry procedures and designing several tour programs in order to satisfy their needs better and increase their conveniences.
Govt Plans to Expand Digital Nomad Visa
In addition to the introduction of the K-Culture visa, the South Korean government is also planning to expand its digital nomad visa.
Known also as the workcation visa, this type of visa was introduced in South Korea on January 1, 2024. Foreigners holding a South Korean digital nomad visa are entitled to work from the country for a period of up to two years and can also bring their family members to South Korea.
As further reported, South Korea is now considering the possibility of updating its requirements in a bid to lure more digital nomads to certain regions of the country.
South Korea to Ease Some Entry Requirements for Foreign Visitors
As further reported, the South Korean government will relax rules regarding the group tourists’ applications for electronic travel authorization (K-ETA).
Among other facilities, the government will also establish additional unmanned immigration checkpoints at important ports in order to reduce the time needed to screen tourists on cruise ships.
In addition, South Korea will introduce new international flight routes, as revealed by a South Korean ministry official.
We will also enhance the monitoring of and crack down on unfair activities by merchants, such as scams targeting tourists at major tourist attractions and regional festivals.
Over 11 Million Foreign Visitors Visited South Korea in 2023
With the new measures, South Korea aims to lure more international tourists, as the country is struggling to reach the pre-pandemic figures.
The number of visitors to South Korea surged from 97,000 in 2021 to more than 11 million in 2023. Although it represents a notable increase, such a number is still below 2019 figures when the country welcomed 17.5 million tourists.