‘K-STAR Visa Track’ Selects 24 Applicants, Showing Unprecedented Support for Settling Foreign Talent in Science and Tech Fields
- Date
- 2026/08/07
- Writer
- English
- Hit
- 569
Resident (F-2) visa benefits to be offered to outstanding international students even without confirmed employment, actively encouraging global science and technology talent to settle and conduct research domestically.
The KNU Office of International Affairs announced on July 31st that it has completed recommending outstanding talent for the ‘K-STAR Visa Track’ (Korea-Science & Technology Advanced Human-Resources Visa Track) program.
The ‘K-STAR Visa Track’ program refers to a system where university presidents directly recommend, to the Ministry of Justice, international students with exceptional research capabilities who have obtained (or are expected to obtain) a master’s or doctoral degree in STEM from a domestic university. Through the Ministry of Justice's final screening process, these individuals can receive a Resident (F-2-7S) visa even if they have not secured employment.
Originally operated primarily across five institutes of science and technology since 2023, the K-STAR Visa System expanded to 27 general universities starting in January 2026. KNU spearheaded the process by posting a recruitment announcement in April, attracting 99 international student applicants and demonstrating high interest in settling locally.
As this was the first implementation of the system at KNU, the university stated that it selected only 24% of applicants following a rigorous document review and interview process. The selection committee reportedly deliberated carefully on the scale of selections to balance the policy goal of attracting and settling top foreign talent with the administrative principle of fair visa management, while reviewing precedent cases from various science and technology institutes. Selection criteria focused heavily on applicants' research capabilities, such as published papers and patents, while also considering specific settlement plans and understanding of Korean culture.
The 24 selected individuals represent 16 academic fields, including physics, chemistry, computer science, electrical/electronic engineering, and mechanical engineering. The cohort consists of 11 postdoctoral researchers and 13 graduates (or prospective graduates) from doctoral and integrated master's-doctoral programs, originating from 14 different countries.
These selected top foreign science and technology talents can now pursue research and entrepreneurial activities in a stable environment without the burden of visa extensions. Furthermore, unlike general international students, they are expected to find settling in Korea significantly easier due to major advantages regarding Permanent Residency (F-5) requirements and special naturalization eligibility.
Choi Hee-kyung, Dean of International Affairs, stated, "Through the operation of the K-STAR Visa Track program, we expect to establish a virtuous cycle where more outstanding foreign talent enrolls at our university, focuses on research, and contributes to the local community and technological advancements." She added, "At the university level, we will spare no support across the full lifecycle of international students, from admission to graduation, and ultimate domestic settlement."
The KNU Office of International Affairs announced on July 31st that it has completed recommending outstanding talent for the ‘K-STAR Visa Track’ (Korea-Science & Technology Advanced Human-Resources Visa Track) program.
The ‘K-STAR Visa Track’ program refers to a system where university presidents directly recommend, to the Ministry of Justice, international students with exceptional research capabilities who have obtained (or are expected to obtain) a master’s or doctoral degree in STEM from a domestic university. Through the Ministry of Justice's final screening process, these individuals can receive a Resident (F-2-7S) visa even if they have not secured employment.
Originally operated primarily across five institutes of science and technology since 2023, the K-STAR Visa System expanded to 27 general universities starting in January 2026. KNU spearheaded the process by posting a recruitment announcement in April, attracting 99 international student applicants and demonstrating high interest in settling locally.
As this was the first implementation of the system at KNU, the university stated that it selected only 24% of applicants following a rigorous document review and interview process. The selection committee reportedly deliberated carefully on the scale of selections to balance the policy goal of attracting and settling top foreign talent with the administrative principle of fair visa management, while reviewing precedent cases from various science and technology institutes. Selection criteria focused heavily on applicants' research capabilities, such as published papers and patents, while also considering specific settlement plans and understanding of Korean culture.
The 24 selected individuals represent 16 academic fields, including physics, chemistry, computer science, electrical/electronic engineering, and mechanical engineering. The cohort consists of 11 postdoctoral researchers and 13 graduates (or prospective graduates) from doctoral and integrated master's-doctoral programs, originating from 14 different countries.
These selected top foreign science and technology talents can now pursue research and entrepreneurial activities in a stable environment without the burden of visa extensions. Furthermore, unlike general international students, they are expected to find settling in Korea significantly easier due to major advantages regarding Permanent Residency (F-5) requirements and special naturalization eligibility.
Choi Hee-kyung, Dean of International Affairs, stated, "Through the operation of the K-STAR Visa Track program, we expect to establish a virtuous cycle where more outstanding foreign talent enrolls at our university, focuses on research, and contributes to the local community and technological advancements." She added, "At the university level, we will spare no support across the full lifecycle of international students, from admission to graduation, and ultimate domestic settlement."