Korea to lure more skilled foreign talent

By Park Ung Posted : September 27, 2024, 15:22 Updated : September 27, 2024, 15:23
Workers are seen at Samsung Electronics' plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, in this undated photo. Yonhap
SEOUL, September 27 (AJP) - Korea is set to attract more skilled workers from abroad as the country faces a declining population.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy said on Friday that it will introduce a new visa program for foreigners in high-tech industries and also streamline the overall process for obtaining work permits.

"Unlike other countries such as Japan and Singapore, which are keen to attract global talent, Korea lags behind by focusing primarily on nurturing domestic talent," the ministry said. "We aim to attract 1,000 skilled professionals by 2030 under the new program."

Those expected to benefit from the program include engineers and scientists with master's degrees or higher from prestigious universities, as well as professionals with extensive experience and expertise in artificial intelligence and semiconductors.

After a one-year stay in Korea, qualified individuals can switch to an F-2 long-term visa, allowing them to change jobs instead of adhering to the current three-year requirement.

The government will also ease visa regulations and reduce processing time from the current two months to just two weeks.

기사 이미지 확대 보기
닫기