Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
Korea to issue visas for K-culture training, rural workcations
Tourists dressed in Korean traditional clothes visit Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
By Yi Whan-woo
Korea will introduce a visa for foreign nationals who want to receive training in K-pop, choreography, fashion modeling and other categories of Korean popular culture, the government announced, Monday.
The government is also contemplating expanding the existing workcation visa, which allows individuals to work remotely while traveling in Korea. This initiative aims to encourage longer stays in regions outside of Seoul.
These initiatives are part of comprehensive measures aimed at attracting more long-term foreign visitors and increasing tourism in the country. They also aim to offer a variety of tour options that cater to the increasingly diverse needs of travelers.
The two visa programs mentioned are intended for foreigners seeking to stay in Korea for longer periods beyond mere tourism purposes.
Named the “K-culture training visa,” this culture-oriented visa program will be implemented on a trial basis this year to meet growing demand from people around the world for immersion in Korean pop culture.
The workcation visa will build upon the "digital nomad visa," currently offered on a one-year trial basis since January. The government intends to expand the workcation visa through various incentive programs provided by regional governments, enabling remote workers to reside in regions beyond the Seoul metropolitan area.
“Revisions of visa rules are necessary to successfully cope with changing tourism trends,” the Ministry of Finance and Economy noted, while announcing plans to ultimately draw 30 million tourists per year and reap $30 billion in tourism revenues by 2027.
Foreign arrivals in Korea increased from a pandemic low of 970,000 in 2021 to 11 million in 2023. However, this significant increase did not necessarily lead to a rebound in tourism revenues to the pre-pandemic level of $20.7 billion.
The government attributed this gap to changing travel trends, such as a shift from group tours to individual travel, an increased reliance on travel apps, and a stronger focus on cultural experiences over shopping.
“For instance, more foreign nationals have been interested in undergoing training in entertainment and other aspects of Korean culture in the long term, but could not do so because the valid duration of stay was far shorter,” the ministry explained.
To improve the convenience of tourists during entry, the government will also expand infrastructure for visa issuance and streamline other entry procedures.
For group tourists, the application process for K-ETA, an electronic travel authorization required in advance for visitors from visa-free countries, will be simplified.
More automated immigration checkpoints will be set up at major ports to expedite the screening process for passengers arriving on cruise ships from abroad.
Additionally, passenger terminals will extend their operating hours to accommodate travelers requiring extended travel times.
As part of efforts to boost regional tourism, new flight routes will open starting in the second half of this year to connect cities outside of Seoul with international tourist attractions. For example, routes will include connections between Busan and Jakarta, as well as between Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province and Bali.
Luggage delivery services from KTX bullet train stations to hotels will be expanded, and a total of 16 locations, up from the current nine, will be available for the service.
The Easy Drop service, which allows tourists to check their luggage outside the airport before departure, will be broadened.