The Ministry of Justice from this year will implement a fast-track system to grant permanent residence or citizenship to foreign human resources possessing outstanding capacity in science and technology. Shown is the front sign of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). (KAIST's official Facebook page)

By Park Hye Ri

A new fast-track policy will grant permanent residence or citizenship to outstanding foreign personnel in science and technology for their settlement in Korea.

The Ministry of Justice on Jan. 1 said it will implement from this year a program to grant permanent residence or citizenship to science and technology talent from abroad.

The policy was requested from academic institutions like the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) as a means to offer foreign talent in science and technology more opportunities to settle in Korea.

The policy applies to foreign holders of a master's degree or doctorate from schools specializing in science and engineering like KAIST, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, and University of Science and Technology in Daejeon.

Foreign nationals can attain residential qualifications if they get a recommendation from the president of such a school, permanent residence if their research experience and results meet certain standards, and naturalization through a nationality deliberation committee if they have outstanding research performance.

Foreign holders of a master's or doctorate from Korea previously had to undergo four to five difficult stages to attain permanent residence or naturalization in a process that took over six years.

Through this fast-track system, foreign nationals with advanced degrees from science and engineering schools can attain permanent residence or citizenship in three years under a three-step process.

Since last month, the government has run a pilot program allow foreign nationals who earn a master's or doctorate from domestic science and engineering schools to qualify for residence regardless of employment situation.

Minister of Justice Han Dong Hoon said, "Including this fast-track system granting permanent residence or citizenship to outstanding talent in science and technology, we will continuously push for measures to encourage permanent residence or naturalization of talented foreign human resources who can contribute to Korea's development."

hrhr@korea.kr