The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health and Welfare on Aug. 24 said they designated 24 schools to train foreign nursing assistants. (iClickArt) (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution of the above photo is prohibited under copyright law.) 

By Koh Hyunjeong

Twenty-four schools nationwide have been selected to train foreign nursing assistants, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health and Welfare said on Aug. 24.

The institutions include Myongji College and Sahmyook Health University in Seoul, Kyungnam College of Information & Technology in Busan, and Jeju Tourism University on Jeju Island.

They will offer degree programs for the job from the first semester of next year. Korean-language training will also be provided under Ministry of Justice guidelines.

Financial requirements for visa issuance will be eased for foreign students enrolled in related departments at universities.

The Ministry of Justice and other agencies plan to decide on making the project permanent after reviewing and evaluating it over the next two years.

"This will help secure a stable workforce of nursing assistants," Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun Kyeong said. "We will also strive to improve the treatment of such workers."

hjkoh@korea.kr