Establishment of Management Division in Cheongju Immigration Office
Establishment of Immigration Detention Review Committee
Launch of “e-Arrival Card”
Official Introduction to Visa & Residence Policy Proposal Program
Introduction and Implementation of Top-Tier Visa
Launch of the K-STAR* Visa Track
* Korea-Science & Technology Advanced human-Resources
Expansion of Medical Tourism Facilitator Designation
Implementation of Provincial-Specific Visa Pilot Program
Revision to Relevant Provisions of the Immigration Act Concerning Operation of the Seasonal Worker Program
Revision to Relevant Provisions of the Immigration Act Concerning the Introduction of a Maximum Period of Immigration Detention
Revision to Relevant Provisions of the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act Concerning the Exemption from Mandatory Reporting of Illegal Status for Foreign Workers Affected by Wage Theft
Renovation of Male Detention Building at Hwaseong Immigration Detention Center to an Open-Type Facility
Issuance of Mobile Foreigner Residence Card
Expansion of Foreign Residence Card Verification Service to Non-Banking Financial Institutions
Introduction of Fees Korea Immigration & Integration Program(KIIP)
Enactment of ｢Operational Regulations on Refugee Interpreters｣(Ministry of Justice Directives)
Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Refugee Resettlement Program
Hosting of Nationality Certificate Awarding Ceremony for Descendants of Independence Activists in Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the National Liberation Day
Official launch of a video interview system for screening refugee applicants
Implementation of a big data analysis and visualization service for immigration administration
Announcement of a new immigration policy
Establishment of a CBT center for the social integration program in Seoul
Introduction of the Start-up Korea Special Visa to attract promising overseas start-ups
Launch of a pilot preliminary announcement for the employment visa quota
Launch of a region-specific visa system
Development of a system for issuing mobile residence cards
A detention division newly established at Ulsan Immigration Office
Renaming of E-visa Centre at Seoul Immigration Office to Online Residence & Visa Centre
Full implementation of fast-track permanent residence & naturalization for skilled research scientists and technicians
Issuance of residence cards bearing a new design
Offering on-site Social Integration Programs at industrial parks and shipyards
Full implementation of K-Point E74 – a scheme aiming large-scale expansion of the size of skilled workers
Introduction of residence card authentication verification service
Development of an all-inclusive database of foreign residents for administrative use
Inauguration of 46 regional immigration policy research networks in 12 regional governments
Finalization of the Fourth Masterplan for Immigration Policy
Launched a certification program for refugee-dedicated interpreters
Created the Yeongdeungpo Center of Southern Seoul Immigration Office
Elevated the Ansan Branch Office to an independent immigration office
Deployed two surveillance ships named ‘Hwangokho’ and ‘Chojijinho’
Opened the Andong Branch Office of the Daegu Immigration Office
Established the Immigration Policy Reform Division
A full implementation of electronic travel authorization (K-ETA)
The creation of the Immigration Big Data Division centred on agile response to data affairs
The launch of “Government Joint Support Group for Afghan Special Contributors” to provide support for new Afghan residents
The launch of “Global Talent Visa Centre” in Daedeok Innopolis, Daejeon
Electronic visas replaced existing visa stickers
Refugee Appeals Division was newly created along with the existing Refugee Division being renamed to Refugee Policy Division
Visa waiver programme and visa-free entry temporarily suspended to contain the spread of COVID
Border Control & COVID Emergency Response Section was created
E-gates (Smart Entry Service) offered to expaned groups of foreign tourists
Limited visa extension started to apply to foreign residents with delinquent national health insurance payments
Nationality conferment ceremony held to celebrate the 200,000th naturalized citizen milestone
Implementation of a plan to reduce illegal immigrants and encourage rightful people-to-people exchanges