Korea lowers visa hurdles for foreign workers to stave off shrinking workforce

The Ministry of Justice said Monday that it will ease several immigration and residency requirements, part of a concerted effort to shore up a shrinking workforce and project the nation’s cultural influence further abroad. A centerpiece of the plan is the relaxation of experience and language requirements for the D-4 Korean culinary trainee visa. This adjustment is specifically tailored for students enrolled in "Sura Academy" programs, an initiative overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to train international students in authentic Korean cuisine called "hansik." By lowering the barriers for aspiring chefs, officials hope to accelerate the globalization of Korean cuisine, transforming the country’s gastronomic tradition into a more accessible export. The measures, approved during the third session of the Visa and Residency Policy Council, signal a strategic shift by the government to attract specific categories of foreign talent, ranging from remote-working "digital nomads" to specialized industrial artisans. The council, chaired by Justice Minister Jung SunWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times