Korea trims bureaucracy to woo elite global tech experts

In an increasingly competitive global scramble for advanced technology, Korea is rolling out the red carpet for elite foreign engineers and researchers. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources announced Thursday the expansion of its “K-Tech Pass” program, introducing a more flexible screening framework designed to aggressively boost the recruitment of global talent by domestic firms. The overhaul shifts away from a rigid visa system that corporate leaders complained was disconnected from the realities of hiring in cutting-edge fields. Previously, foreign applicants could only secure the fast-tracked "Top-tier" residency visa if they met strict quantitative milestones. These included holding a postgraduate degree from one of the world’s top 100 engineering schools, an employment history at Fortune 500 companies or a salary at least three times Korea’s gross national income per capita. Under the new "qualitative track" launched Thursday, applicants will be evaluated on a broader 100-point rubric. While quantitative metrics still account for 65 points, 35 points are now alloc