Busan is good

Regional Specialized Visas offer immigrants a path to permanent residency

 Busan Metropolitan City will recruit foreign professionals for the 2025 Regional Specialized Visa Project from March 26 to April 25. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Justice, aims to address labor shortages, boost local economies and stabilize population levels by helping foreign nationals and their families settle and work in depopulated areas.In Busan, the designated areas include three districts experiencing population decline, Seo-gu, Dong-gu and Yeongdo-gu, and two at-risk areas, Jung-gu and Geumjeong-gu. Visa holders are required to work and reside in these government-designated areas, with specific conditions varying based on the visa type. Visa Categories and ChangesThis year’s recruitment covers three visa types:1) Regional Specialized Talent (F-2-R): Applicants must work and reside in a designated area, with some exceptions. For 2025, the Korean language proficiency requirement has increased from TOPIK Level 3 to Level 4. There are 150 F-2-R visas available in Busan.2) Regional Specialized Skilled Workers (E-7-4R): This new visa gives non-professional workers (E-9), maritime crew (E-10) and visiting workers (H-2) a path to permanent residency. There are 159 E-7-4R visas available in Busan.3) Regional Specialized Overseas Koreans (F-4-R): For 2025, there is no quota limit and applications are open until Sept. 30, 2026. Application ProcessF-2-R and E-7-4R visa applicants must submit the required documentation to their designated district office by 6 p.m. on April 25.F-4-R visa applicants must submit the required documents to either the Seo-gu, Dong-gu or Yeongdo-gu district office.For more information on visa types and eligibility requirements, visit the 2025 Regional Specialized Visa Project announcement page.※ 2025 Regional Specialized Visa Project, until April 25◎ Announcement: https://www.busan.go.kr/nbgosi/view?sno=71381&gosiGbn=A&curPage=1※ Inquiries regarding the F-2-R visa:◎ Seo-gu Office, Family Happiness Division: 051-240-4356◎ Dong-gu Office, General Affairs Division: 051-440-4111◎ Yeongdo-gu Office, Lifelong Education Division: 051-419-4525※ For inquiries regarding the E-7-4R visa:◎ Seo-gu Office, Family Happiness Division: 051-240-4356◎ Dong-gu Office, General Affairs Division: 051-440-4111◎ Yeongdo-gu Office, Lifelong Education Division: 051-419-4491◎ Jung-gu Office, General Affairs Division: 051-600-4114◎ Geumjeong-gu Office, Family Policy Division: 051-519-4365◎ Busan Global City Foundation: 1577-7716 (consultation and interpretation service available)◎ Busan Foreign Workers Support Center: 051-868-7606 (consultation and interpretation service available)◎ Busan Foreign Residents Center: 051-304-0900 (consultation and interpretation service available)※ For inquiries regarding the F-4-R visa:◎ Seo-gu Office, Family Happiness Division: 051-240-4356◎ Dong-gu Office, General Affairs Division: 051-440-4111◎ Yeongdo-gu Office, Lifelong Education Division: 051-419-4491◎ Busan Global City Foundation: 1577-7716 (consultation and interpretation service available)◎ Busan Foreign Residents Center: 051-304-0900 (consultation and interpretation service available)<Today's Vocabulary - 오늘의 단어>recruit: 모집하다 labor: 노동의 shortage: 부족 boost: 끌어올리다 depopulated area: 과소 지역 district: 구역 proficiency: 유창성 permanent: 영구적인 residency: 거주 quota: 할당, 한도 requirement: 자격사항Editor: Song SoomiCopy Editors: Ryu Hyoseung, Anton J. Mapoy 

Busan Ranks First in the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism’s Wellness & Medical Tourism Convergence Cluster Assessment

Busan Ranks First in the Ministry of Culture, Sports Tourism’s Wellness Medical Tourism Convergence Cluster Assessment□ On March 13, Busan Metropolitan City confirmed that it had secured 500 million won in national funding after claiming first place in the medical tourism category of the Wellness Medical Tourism Convergence Cluster Assessment, conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports Tourism.○ The Ministry of Culture, Sports Tourism evaluated the 2024 performances and 2025 plans of six regions selected for the 2023-2025 Wellness Medical Tourism Convergence Cluster Project, which aims to build world-class destinations for healing and healthcare.○ The assessment was based on key indicators such as the development and operation of wellness and medical tourism content and the number of inbound foreign patients across two categories: medical tourism and wellness tourism.* Wellness tourism refers to travel focused on well-being, fitness, and happiness to promote health recovery, enhancement, and overall quality of life.□ Busan earned high scores for its quality medical services, efforts to establish wellness tourism infrastructure and create integrated wellness and medical tourism content, as well as success in drawing international patients—all of which contributed to creating a robust wellness and medical tourism convergence cluster.○ Notable achievements in 2024 include the designation of ten wellness tourism sites; the attraction of approximately 30,000 patients from overseas; professional training in wellness and medical tourism; the opening of the Busan Medical Tourism Business Center, a first-of-its-kind among municipalities; strong voluntary participation in the Cluster Cooperation Committee; and the development of wellness tourism programs tailored for foreign patients.○ In particular, ten wellness and medical tourism programs, including ‘Healing Day in Busan’ and ‘One-Day Medical Wellness Healing Tour,’ received positive feedback from

Busan One Asia Festival: Asia’s No.1 K-Content Festival - 2025 Renewal

Busan One Asia Festival: Asia’s No.1 K-Content Festival - 2025 Renewal□ The 2025 Busan One Asia Festival will be held from June 11 to 13, 2025.○ Now in its ninth year, BOF has firmly established itself as one of Asia’s premier concert events, combining K-POP content with Busan’s rich cultural scene since 2016.○ BOF celebrates its evolution from a K-POP event to a cultural exchange platform where young people worldwide come together to explore K-Culture.□ The 2025 Busan One Asia Festival will diversify its K-Culture offerings and embrace transformation.○ The event will be hosted by Busan Metropolitan City and co-organized by the Busan Tourism Organization and SM Culture Contents. Partnering with SM Culture Contents, BOF is poised to be rebranded as Busan’s signature Hallyu attraction in the first half of the year.□ For the first time, the K-POP Concert, the most significant part of the 2025 Busan One Asia Festival, will take place indoors at BEXCO from June 11 to 13. The indoor setting will promise spectacular stage effects and performance content.○ Unlike previous years, this edition will feature a series of concerts over three days: the K-POP Omnibus Concert and K-POP Band Concert.○ A tapestry of exhilarating side events will include the Rookie Artist Showcase, K-Culture Talk Show, and Fandom City.□ The first confirmed performers for this year’s festival are WayV and NCT WISH.○ WayV, a multinational boy group widely popular in Greater China, made their Korean debut in June 2024. Known for their exceptional musicality and choreography, they are on track to becoming global stars.○ Crowned the ‘Best Rookie of 2024,’ NCT WISH has been making waves in Korea and Japan. Their first solo tour from November to December 2024 across six Japanese cities was a massive success, selling out all 12 shows and garnering international acclaim.□ In addition, the Rookie Artist Showcase, K-Culture Talk Show, B-Market, and Fandom City will be present