- Work and Play in South Korea: Digital Nomad Visas and K-Culture Training for International Visitors 목차
The South Korean government has unveiled a comprehensive plan aimed at attracting 10 million foreign tourists in a bid to boost the domestic economy. Central to this plan is the expansion of the Electronic Travel Authorization System (K-ETA), which will offer multilingual services and be temporarily waived for 22 countries known for their high number of entrants and low entry refusal rates. E-visa issuance times will also be significantly reduced through the establishment of an online immigration complaint center.
New visa types, such as digital nomad visas (workation visas) and K-culture training visas, will be introduced in June, encouraging foreigners to spend more time in the country. Promotional events like free ticket lotteries, discount offers, and the nationwide 'Korea Duty-Free FESTA 2023' are set to draw in tourists from across the globe.
Payment options for domestic travel reservations will be expanded, with platforms like Alipay, WeChat Pay, and KLOOK being added for train and express bus ticket purchases.
The country plans to hold large-scale K-pop concerts and events throughout major regions, including Busan, Jeonbuk, Incheon, Jeju, and Seoul, from May to October. In an effort to entice more overseas visitors, restrictions on outdoor advertising for foreigner-only casinos will be eased, and a Korean-style casino complex resort will be established on Yeongjong Island.
Furthermore, K-beauty publicity centers will be installed in major commercial districts, with a focus on promoting products from mid-sized and small businesses.