South Korea to launch special visa for K-pop fans
Being a K-pop fan just a got a whole lot better!
South Korea has announced some exciting news for enthusiasts of the country's culture as it is now planning to launch a visa specifically made for them.
According to a report by Forbes, the travel document, dubbed as the "Hallyu visa" or the "K-culture training visa," will allow non-Koreans to stay in the country for up to two years. But the catch is that they must register at local performing arts academies.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism is leading this initiative, describing the country's arts as a "driver of K-culture for the next generation" in its business plan. One of its major goals is to support young artists and strengthen the capability of college students majoring in arts.
Aside from this, the ministry also plans to boost its tourism by drawing in more visitors through the "K Tourism Road Show," which will be held in countries such as the US and Sweden this year.
South Korea has yet to give details on how to apply for the K-culture visa and the requirements that would be needed for it. Forbes, however, reported that it's expected to be unveiled by the second half of 2024.
Based on data gathered by South Korea’s culture-and-tourism ministry, K-pop is said to be "the most-cited reason for visiting the country."
After monitoring mentions of Korean culture on the internet in the 20 top countries that drive inbound tourism, the study found that K-pop was mentioned nearly 37 million times online.
This was 2.6 times more than mentions of Korean food and about four times more than general Korean cultural content.
Aside from the K-culture visa, South Korea is also now allowing foreign nationals who are working remotely to stay in the country for up to two years and even bring their family through a new digital nomad visa.
Tourists who have an annual income exceeding 84.96 million won (P3.6 million) and are 18 years or older with a minimum of one year of work experience in their current field may apply for this type of visa. Foreigners must also submit proof of employment and details of any criminal record.