South Korean technology companies met with top AI and semiconductor professionals in Silicon Valley this week, signaling Korea’s growing ambitions to attract advanced industry talent from abroad.
On October 14 (local time), the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in San Francisco co-hosted “Career Connect in AI Wave”, an event designed to link Korean companies with global engineers and researchers seeking new career opportunities. The event provided direct consultation sessions, policy briefings, and networking opportunities for participants interested in working in Korea’s high-tech sectors.
U.S. Visa Policy Shift Opens a Window for Korea
The recruitment drive comes amid changing immigration conditions in the United States. The U.S. government recently announced a sharp increase in the H-1B visa fee—from around $1,000 to $100,000—for professional foreign workers.
The hike has raised uncertainty for many foreign engineers and scientists employed or seeking employment in the U.S., pushing some to explore alternative destinations.
For Korea, this shift represents a timely opportunity. As global competition for semiconductor and AI specialists intensifies, Korean companies view the new visa environment as a strategic opening to attract high-caliber global talent to its rapidly expanding advanced industry base.
Spotlight on Korea’s “K-Tech Pass” Visa Program
One of the most discussed topics during the session was the K-Tech Pass, a government-backed visa program that offers streamlined residency and settlement benefits for elite foreign professionals in eight key industrial sectors—semiconductors, displays, secondary batteries, biotechnology, robotics, defense, artificial intelligence, and advanced mobility.
Administered by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and implemented by KOTRA, the program grants a “Top-Tier F-2 Visa” to qualifying applicants. This special visa allows fast-track residency conversion and priority entry benefits designed to make relocation to Korea smoother and more appealing for top global engineers and researchers.
Several participants at the Silicon Valley event said they were drawn to the clarity of the program’s requirements and its tangible settlement incentives.
Korean Tech Firms Conduct On-Site Interviews
Leading Korean AI and semiconductor companies—including FuriosaAI, MangoBoost, and Saltlux—set up recruitment booths at the venue. Company representatives introduced their ongoing projects and held one-on-one consultations with attendees. Some participants even submitted their resumes on site, reflecting growing interest in Korean industry opportunities.
The event also featured round-table sessions in three fields—AI and software, semiconductors, and bio-healthcare—with a total of 173 attendees. Notably, several participants currently employed by major Silicon Valley tech firms joined the discussions, exploring potential collaborations and future career paths in Korea.
A materials engineering master’s student from UC Berkeley commented, “I’ve always been interested in working for Korean tech companies, but it’s hard to find reliable information about their hiring processes or visa options. Learning about K-Tech Pass and Korea’s recruitment initiatives was extremely helpful.”
Korea Positions Itself as a Global Talent Hub
KOTRA established a Global Talent Attraction Center earlier this year to coordinate recruitment and settlement support for foreign professionals, including administration of the K-Tech Pass program. The agency plans to expand similar outreach initiatives in other innovation clusters around the world.
“This event created a rare opportunity for Korean high-tech firms and Silicon Valley professionals to meet face-to-face,” said Kwon Oh-hyung, head of KOTRA’s Silicon Valley Trade Office. “We will continue organizing locally tailored programs so that more global talents can discover the potential of working in Korea’s advanced industries.”
