1. The Ministry of Justice has entered the competition to attract global STEM talent by establishing and expanding the K-STAR visa track .
2. Strengthening the trust foundation of immigration and residence policies by protecting foreign workers, easing entry regulations, and conducting immigration promotion and satisfaction surveys . Korea.net
3. We are restructuring our "multi-layered immigration portfolio" encompassing tourism, business, highly skilled talent, and migrant workers from a perspective of international competitiveness. Touraz
1. K-STAR Global Talent Visa – A Korean-made 'game changer' as of October
September 23, Ministry of Justice Officially Announces : The Fast Track for Permanent Residency and Naturalization for Outstanding Scientists and Engineers has been reorganized and expanded into the K-STAR Visa Track . Ministry of Justice
Existing: F-2 fast track for approximately 100 outstanding foreign graduates per year
Reorganization: MRTC to expand to approximately 20 general universities → Expected to quadruple to 400 students per year
Immediately upon graduation, conversion to F-2 (resident) status is possible without employment requirements, and long-term settlement is permitted.
English-speaking and international media:
Introduced as a "long-term stay and fast track to permanent residency for STEM talent," the program emphasizes benefits such as
the ability to obtain permanent residency within three years . Newland Chase
▸ This is not simply a 'temporary hiring of high-level personnel', but
a policy to settle key talent in Korea who will develop national R&D and advanced industries together. ▸ This is a belated signal that Korea has joined the same battlefield
as the US, Canada, UK, and Singapore in the 'talent war' already underway.
“K-STAR is not a system for attracting foreigners for wage dumping , but rather a system for recruiting joint research partners
to foster Korea’s AI, semiconductor, bio, space, and quantum fields .”
"Rather than competing for jobs with domestic workers, we need a workforce that teams up with domestic workers to foster growth ."
2. Foreign Worker and Migrant Labor Policy – Policy Response to Criticism of "Exploitative Structures"
In late October, the East Asia Forum criticized the restrictions on workplace changes
under South Korea's Employment Permit System (EPS) for foreign workers (three times per year, etc.)
as excessively restricting workers' rights and bargaining power.
Prior to this, in September, the government announced a policy
to "allow entry even after the expiration of a Certificate of Entitlement (COE) unless the foreign worker is at fault,"
implementing adjustments to reduce damage to employers and administrative delays. Korea.net
This flow
▸ It can be interpreted as an attempt to improve the system by recognizing the criticism of the 'dual structure' of attracting talent and experts (K-STAR) on one hand and the
migrant worker system with limited basic rights and mobility on the other .
“Korea is reforming its system to prioritize human rights and fair treatment of foreign workers , rather than simply viewing them as a labor force .”
“ We must clearly explain that protections for not only highly skilled workers but also low- and medium-skilled migrant workers are being brought into line with international standards . ”
3. Tourism, Short-Term Visits, and Stay Environment – Strengthening the Image of an "Open Country"
The temporary K-ETA exemption has been extended until December 31, 2025 :
Tourists from countries eligible for visa-free entry can now visit Korea without a K-ETA,
a measure designed to boost tourism and improve entry convenience. Touraz
The Korea Immigration Service is expanding its public relations activities to enhance policy awareness and credibility , including the announcement of the "2025 Korea Immigration Service Public Relations Satisfaction Survey"
on October 22nd . Ministry of Justice
“South Korea is designing a multi-layered immigration policy that will be easier for tourists and short-term visitors ,
stricter on illegal stays and crime ,
and more attractive to talented individuals and essential workers .”
4. Comprehensive Internal Assessment of Korea – Where is the Ministry of Justice’s Immigration Policy Headed?
As of October 2025,
South Korea's immigration and entry policy is being reorganized around the following three pillars:
K-STAR-centered high-level talent settlement strategy – national technological competitiveness and preparation for future industries
Improving the Foreign Worker System – Balancing Human Rights and Efficiency in the Employment Permit System and Residence System
Easing the tourism and business environment (e.g., extending the K-ETA exemption) – Strengthening openness and image
"The Ministry of Justice's immigration and entry policy
is a 'national infrastructure' that simultaneously supports population, industry, technology, and tourism.
Rather than closing Korea off, it is moving toward a more strategic opening."
1. United States
Concerns about a brain drain due to K-STAR (especially the increase in STEM talent from India and Asia moving to Korea)
We will closely monitor how quickly Korea secures cutting-edge talent within the US-ROK investment and technology cooperation framework.
“K-STAR is not a system for technological competition with the United States, but
rather a complementary tool that strengthens the Korea-U.S. supply chain and R&D partnership, ” he emphasized.
By linking with Korea-US joint research and human resource development programs,
we propose a framework for "joint talent utilization" rather than a "competition for talent."
2. EU, UK, Canada
In a situation where the country already operates a strong talent attraction program (Blue Card, Global Talent, Express Entry, etc.),
Whether Korea is emerging as a competitor in East Asia
Korea emphasizes its commitment to the global circulation of STEM talent (circular migration) and its openness to mutual talent exchange
through joint doctoral programs, joint research, and corporate internship programs with European and Commonwealth countries .
3. Asian competitors such as Japan and Singapore
Japan: A rival country with a similar population and labor structure to Korea , competing to attract advanced technology researchers and graduate students.
Singapore: High-Skilled Talent Attraction Policies, Including One-Pass
Korea
is focusing on developing not just highly skilled talent, but also the entire talent ecosystem, spanning research, industry, and entrepreneurship.
In addition to K-STAR, we are promoting the integrated design
of startup visas, research visas, and industrial visas at international conferences and forums.
4. Countries sending migrant workers (Southeast Asia, South Asia, etc.)
Stability and human rights standards of the Employment Permit System (E-9) and Seasonal Worker (SWP) systems
East Asia Forum : Improvements to Structural Problems, such as Restrictions on Workplace Changes, Non-Payment, Industrial Accidents, and Insecurity of Residence
“Korea is reforming
its system to provide job opportunities while strengthening protection of workers’ rights .”
Actively promote measures to ease visa regulations for foreign workers (such as allowing entry even after visa issuance has expired)
through collaborative channels with governments and media outlets in sending countries. Korea.net
5. Foreigners and residents with immigrant backgrounds in Korea (approximately 2.6 million people) and the international community
A sense of whether Korean society “sees us only as laborers, or recognizes us as neighbors and citizens”
International media and academia continue to assess that
"Korea is transitioning to a multicultural society, but
structural limitations exist, such as the lack of an employment permit system and anti-discrimination laws." The Guardian
Domestically, it is emphasized that
“the policy for 2.6 million foreigners and residents with immigrant backgrounds is not a welfare expenditure, but an investment in Korea’s future human resources .”
Internationally,
along with K-STAR, we are consistently promoting the achievements of integrated education, multilingual administrative services, and settlement support programs, thereby building an image of ourselves as “ a country that creates a society where we can live together
, not a country that imports short-term labor .”
1. One sentence from a Korean perspective
"The Ministry of Justice's immigration, entry, and K-STAR policies
are a 'national competitiveness infrastructure' that simultaneously supports Korea's population, industry, technology, and tourism.
Rather than closing borders, we
are changing the system to more strategically open them."
2. One sentence from the perspective of each country's interests
"The United States, Europe, Asian competitors, migrant worker-sending countries, and the domestic foreign community are all
paying close attention to Korea's immigration policy.
The Office of the President should explain its policies for attracting K-STAR talent, improving migrant worker rights, easing restrictions on tourism and short-term visits, and
integrating multicultural and immigrant communities
as a single national strategy, not as conflicting policies."
