1,000 Metropolitan Visas to Be Issued Over Two Years... Busan City Begins Full-Scale Implementation

Presided Over by Mayor Park Hyungjun
Attended by Leaders from 14 Universities and Institutions

The city of Busan is set to fully launch the "Metropolitan Visa Pilot Program," which supports the recruitment of international students and their settlement in the region.

On May 21, Busan City will hold the "Busan Metropolitan Visa Related Agencies Meeting" at the city hall's video conference room, presided over by Mayor Park Hyungjun, to share implementation plans with universities and relevant organizations.

Attendees at the meeting include representatives from 14 participating universities such as Kyungsung University, Pukyong National University, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, and Pusan National University, as well as officials from the Busan Immigration and Foreigners Office, Busan Global City Foundation, and Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The city will present its operational strategy for the metropolitan visa, while each university will introduce its own management plans. Together, they will discuss ways to stably train and settle global talent in the region's strategic industries.

Busan was selected as the final participant in the Ministry of Justice's Metropolitan Visa Pilot Program in April. Over the next two years, the city plans to recruit 1,000 international students and establish an ecosystem that supports their continued settlement. Strategic industries include semiconductors, secondary batteries, and future automobile parts. International students will complete specialized degree programs in these fields and receive support to continue into employment and settlement through internships and practical training.

Participating universities will select international students mainly for dedicated majors associated with the metropolitan visa and operate internship and recruitment programs linked to industrial sites, aiming to increase both settlement and employment rates.

The city will also ease financial requirements for international student settlement, allow internships during the academic term, and support the transition to settlement-type visas, providing both administrative and institutional support. In addition, by connecting with major national projects such as the Ministry of Education's RISE initiative, Glocal University, and specialized universities, Busan plans to expand the metropolitan visa program as a core platform for the "Busan Global Talent Strategy."

Mayor Park Hyungjun of Busan stated, "Busan is facing structural challenges such as population decline, aging, and industrial transformation," and added, "We hope the metropolitan visa program will enhance the competitiveness of local universities and serve as an opportunity to secure the sustainability of our industries."