South Korea is preparing to launch a special Hallyu visa, also known as the "K-culture study visa," which will allow foreigners to stay in the country for up to two years while enrolling in local performing arts academies. The term "Hallyu" translates to "Korean Wave" and refers to the global popularity of South Korea's cultural economy, which exports K-pop through music, movies and other artistic expressions.
South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has identified the art as a "driver of K-pop culture for the next generation" in its business plan. Supporting young artists and writers became one of the six key strategies to attract more tourists. In addition, the launch of the "K-tourism road show" in the USA and Sweden is planned this year.
Although the specific requirements for the K-culture visa have not yet been determined, details should be released by the second half of 2024. From a tourism perspective, attracting the attention of K-pop and K-drama fans has a significant economic impact. Aimed at boosting the K-pop industry, which has become key to the country's economy, the new visa could boost tourism growth, especially after the economic impact of BTS's temporary hiatus last year.
According to the ministry's report, K-pop is the most frequently cited reason to visit the country. Over a three-year period, the study noted mentions of Korean culture on social media in the 20 countries most visited by tourists. K-pop turned out to be almost three times more popular than Korean cuisine, and four times more popular than general Korean culture.
