Sura School for Korean Cuisine Chefs to Launch Next Year...Eased Visa Requirements to Attract Global Talent

"Measures to Strengthen Global Korean Cuisine Education" Discussed at National Policy Coordination Meeting
Practical Sura School Pilot Program to Start in Second Half of This Year
Premium Sura School to Be Established Next Year

The government has decided to officially launch "Sura School" starting next year to train Korean cuisine chefs who can work internationally. The government is also seeking to ease visa requirements so that outstanding foreign chefs can participate in Sura School.

On March 5, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it had discussed "Measures to Strengthen Global Korean Cuisine Education" at a national policy coordination meeting presided over by the Prime Minister.

Kyungseok Jung, Food Industry Policy Director at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, is briefing on the operational plan for Sura School at the Government Sejong Complex. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Sura School will be operated as two separate programs: a public-private partnership Sura School to nurture practical Korean cuisine professionals such as chefs, and a premium Sura School to foster high-end Korean cuisine experts. The premium Sura School is scheduled to be established next year. Drawing inspiration from Italy’s University of Gastronomic Sciences and the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners (ICIF)—which were established under the initiative of national or local governments to promote their culinary cultures abroad—the government plans to develop Sura School as a key institution for promoting Korean cuisine and culture by leveraging governmental human and material infrastructure.

Before this, from the second half of this year, the Ministry will utilize private sector infrastructure to provide practical, industry-wide education—from the basics of Korean cuisine and cooking techniques to management. Private institutions designated as Sura School through open calls from universities and companies will deliver education based on government-developed, competency-based standardized curricula. The curriculum will include internship programs in collaboration with renowned Korean restaurants to enhance students’ practical skills and incentivize participation in the program.

Sura School will accept not only foreigners but also Korean nationals. Kyungseok Jung, Food Industry Policy Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, explained, "Initially, Sura School was planned solely for foreigners to train global Korean cuisine chefs, but we saw no reason to exclude young Korean chefs interested in Korean cuisine. The school will mainly focus on foreign chefs, but young Korean chefs will also be able to participate."

To recruit students for Sura School, the Ministry will diversify its overseas promotional channels. It will hold informational sessions and recruit students through overseas diplomatic missions and Korean Cultural Centers. Furthermore, to spark foreign chefs’ interest in Korean cuisine and encourage them to enroll at Sura School, the Ministry is also considering running Korean cuisine training programs at top international culinary schools, such as the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in the United States and ALMA in Italy. In addition, graduates of Sura School will be awarded government-certified certificates to ensure the smooth operation of the school.

The Ministry is currently coordinating with relevant agencies regarding visa matters for foreign students. At present, the D-4-5 visa for Korean cuisine trainees requires at least three years of chef work experience or a degree in a related field, as well as a certain level of Korean language proficiency. A ministry official explained, "The requirements are so strict that virtually no such visas have been issued," adding, "We will discuss ways to relax the visa requirements for Sura School students."

Sura School will be operated on a paid basis. Officer Jung stated, "Like many prestigious foreign culinary schools, Sura School will charge tuition and create a structure that allows the school to generate its own revenue. The government will support Sura School's promotional activities and the development of standardized curricula, and is also considering providing scholarships to some students."

The Ministry plans to establish Sura School as a symbolic space in major cities with good accessibility, where Korean culture can be showcased and in-depth Korean cuisine education can be provided. The program will invite star chefs and food masters for one-on-one mentoring and signature dish training, offering small-group elite education. Partnerships will be established with key regional Korean cuisine institutions such as breweries, temples, and local food service companies to strengthen practical training in Korean ingredients. This is expected to promote the consumption and export of regional ingredients in the long term.

Minister Song Miryung of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said, "Sura School will serve as an outpost for promoting Korean cuisine and spreading our food culture abroad. We will spare no effort in supporting the expansion of Korean cuisine so that the Korean food and K-food craze can become an enduring global gastronomic trend, not just a temporary fad."

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