Currently, K-pop trainees under contracts with major talent mills can obtain an E-6 visa, enabling them to stay for up to two years, while those without are limited to a maximum stay of 90 days.
But foreign K-pop wannabes may soon be eligible to apply for a training visa on a trial basis, provided they take part in training programs to learn K-pop songs and choreography. The visa would allow them to stay in Korea for an extended period.
Detailed guidelines including eligibility criteria for the visa will be finalized within the second half of this year.
Meanwhile, the number of foreign tourists to Korea stood at 4.87 million in the first four months of this year, seeing a 90-percent recovery compared to the same period in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic.
In a bid to further promote tourism, the government is coming up with a series of plans, such as devising various tour packages, simplifying entry procedures for foreign travelers, and enhancing travel conveniences for them.
