Starting in 2024, the South Korean government plans to begin issuing the K-Culture Training Visa (tentative name) to foreigners who love K-Culture and wish to study performing arts in South Korea.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, those who obtain this newly created visa will be allowed to stay for up to two years. Application requirements are expected to be announced by the second half of 2024.

The creation of this visa, also known as the “Hallyu visa”, is based on South Korea’s cultural and economic strategy. K-pop culture, which is exported to foreign countries, such as Korean music and movies , has gained tremendous popularity around the world. According to the “Business Plan” released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in 2023, art is “the driving force behind K-culture for the next generation,” and is one of six important strategies.

The department says it will focus on supporting young artists and writers in order to attract more foreigners to Japan. In addition, the department is conducting the “K Tourism Roadshow” with the aim of promoting tourism, and plans to implement this campaign in countries such as the United States and Sweden in 2024.

Contributing to the travel and tourism industry Trying to gain even more passionate support from fans of K-POP and K-dramas makes sense from the perspective of promoting the growth of South Korea’s tourism sector. is. K-pop is said to bring in approximately $10 billion (approximately 1.44 trillion yen) to the country’s economy annually.

The suspension of activities by the popular group BTS in 2023 to focus on solo activities had a significant impact on the country’s GDP . Meanwhile, South Korea’s travel and tourism industry, which was devastated by the coronavirus pandemic, is regaining its strength as an engine of economic growth. According to a report by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), it is expected to maintain an average annual growth rate of 4.8% until 2032, significantly faster than the 1.8% growth rate expected for the country’s economy as a whole. It is expected. According to a report released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in October 2023, K-POP is the most common reason cited by foreigners visiting South Korea.

Source In Japanese

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