South Korea Plans To Boost Its Tourism With New "Hallyu" & "Digital Nomad" Visas
The country aims to become more "traveller-friendly".
By Celine Low — 05 Jan 2024, 02:09 PM
South Korea plans to revitalise the country's tourism industry, by expanding visa benefits for foreign nationals
The country wants to revive the pandemic-affected travel industry from 2023 to 2027, with the introduction of two new types of visas: the "Hallyu" visa and the "digital nomad" visa.
The aim is to attract 20 million foreign tourists this year.
The Hallyu visa welcomes enthusiasts of Korean content
Also known as the "K-culture training visa", this new visa specifically targets those who are interested to learn about South Korea's entertainment industry.
Non-Koreans who register at local performing arts academies will have the opportunity to stay in South Korea for up to two years.
In conjunction with this initiative, the country also plans to host "K-Culture Events" this year, showcasing Korean music, local cuisine, and beauty.
Hallyu, which translates to "Korean Wave", refers to the enormous global popularity of South Korea's cultural economy exporting K-pop culture through music, films, and other artistic mediums.
The country's culture, sports, and tourism ministry reported that K-pop is the most cited reason for visiting Korea by social and online media users from 20 countries, according to Korea.net.
Specific requirements for the K-culture visa have not been disclosed yet, but details are expected to be announced by the second half of 2024, reported Travel+Leisure India.
Meanwhile, the digital nomad visa, which was launched on 1 January, seeks to promote the "workcation culture"
"Workcation" is a type of vacation where employees work remotely from a different location, such as a vacation rental, hotel, or even the side of a beach.
Foreign travellers can stay in South Korea for up to two years while maintaining employment in their home country. Previously, a tourist visa only allowed a maximum of 90 days.
However, digital nomad visa holders will not be able to apply for a job within the country.
Those interested in applying for the digital nomad visa must be 18 years old and above and have been working in their current field for at least a year
Applicants must submit documentation to their country's Korean embassy, proving that they earn an annual income of over 84.96 million won (about RM306,000), reported The Korea Herald.
Additionally, applicants must provide documents, including verification of employment, details of their criminal record, and proof of private health insurance. They are required to have private health insurance with coverage of at least 100 million won (about RM3,535) to ensure the ability to travel back home in an emergency situation.
This newly implemented visa system will undergo a trial period, with the government subsequently evaluating its potential for permanent adoption.
