'6·25 70th Anniversary' Ministry of Justice Issues 'Quasi-Permanent Resident Visa' for the First Time to Outstanding Veterans' Descendants and Veterans from Participating Countries

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, the Ministry of Justice has granted 'quasi-permanent resident status' for the first time to 68 nationals from countries that participated in the war, allowing them freedom in employment and study.

On the 25th, the Ministry of Justice announced that, in collaboration with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it has established preferential treatment measures for nationals of participating countries who have completed the United Nations (UN) Veterans Descendants Scholarship and Government-Initiated Scholarship programs.

Under this system, the Ministry of Justice has issued residence (F-2) visas (status of stay) to a total of 68 individuals from 13 countries.

The residence (F-2) visa allows a longer stay period than general visas (up to 5 years) and permits free employment and academic activities. When seeking employment in Korea, various reporting obligations are exempted.

In addition, the Ministry of Justice is actively implementing measures such as waiving the application fee for status of stay (100,000 KRW), awarding additional points when applying for extension of stay, and relaxing family invitation and stay requirements.

By nationality, India has the largest number with 14 people, followed by the United States 8, Turkey 8, Thailand 8, Ethiopia 8, the Philippines 6, and Colombia 6.

The 'UN Veterans Descendants Scholarship,' which served as a criterion for selecting the 68 individuals, is a scholarship program targeting direct descendants of veterans from countries that participated under the UN during the Korean War, selecting about 10 people annually to complete degree programs (undergraduate and graduate).

Another criterion, the 'Government-Initiated Scholarship,' is a program led by the Ministry of Education (National Institute for International Education) that supports over 1,000 outstanding talents worldwide, including from participating countries, by providing tuition, living expenses, and airfare.

Esma Esra (27, Turkey), who received the visa, stated, "I want to utilize my major in Korea, engage in related activities, and eventually obtain permanent residency."

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae emphasized, "The development and prosperity of the Republic of Korea have been achieved based on the dedication and sacrifice of UN military veterans," and added, "We will actively support the growth of outstanding talents from participating countries to contribute to the joint development of Korea and the participating countries."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.