"Attracting Top International Talent"... Government Pushes for Inter-Ministerial 'Top-Tier Visa' and One-Stop Support

Ministry of Science and ICT Mobilizes Collaboration with Eight Ministries
Full-Scale Effort to Secure Top Talent in AI and Semiconductor Fields

The government is set to fully activate an inter-ministerial collaboration system to secure top talent in advanced fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and quantum technology. The core initiative is the establishment of a 'one-stop system' that goes beyond simple recruitment to include visas, settlement, and ongoing support.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on April 22 that it will convene the 'Subcommittee on Support for Attracting Professional Talent' under the Foreigners Policy Committee at the Sejong Government Complex, with the participation of eight ministries, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Reference photo to aid understanding of the article. The Asia Business Daily DB

This meeting was organized in response to the growing need for inter-ministerial collaboration to attract and support the settlement of outstanding international talent amid intensifying global technological competition. The underlying rationale is that securing talent in strategic technology sectors—particularly AI, semiconductors, and quantum technology—is directly linked to national competitiveness.

As part of the national agenda to 'establish a basic research ecosystem and realize a powerhouse of science and technology talent,' the Ministry of Science and ICT is currently promoting the 'Brain to Korea' project, which aims to attract outstanding international talent. This meeting is focused on sharing each ministry's initiatives and strengthening practical collaboration to support related policies.

The agenda includes: ▲ the status of professional talent attraction by each ministry; ▲ the introduction of a 'top-tier visa' for science and technology fields; ▲ cooperation on the promotion of international talent recruitment; and ▲ the establishment of a global one-stop support system. The government plans to use these measures to concretize a support system that covers the entire process from talent attraction to domestic settlement.

The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to use this consultation as an opportunity to strengthen policy linkages among ministries and to continuously supplement support measures for the attraction and settlement of talent that can be tangibly felt on the ground.

Lee Junbae, Director General of Future Talent Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "In an era of fierce global technological competition, securing key talent is the most critical factor in determining a nation's competitiveness. We will strengthen inter-ministerial cooperation so that outstanding international talent can settle in Korea with stability and fully realize their potential."

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