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By Oh Young-jin
Rules will be tightened on D-4-1 visas for foreign students wanting to study Korean and foreign languages.
This and other revisions by the Justice Ministry will take effect next month.
Those who fail to attend 50 percent of classes or are below 70 percent in two consecutive semesters will not get their stay extended.
If a vacation exceeds half of the allowed period, only one month will be extended as of the end of the course.
The change comes amid criticism that the system encourages people illegally working in Korea. Under this system, a person can get a two-year extension of stay by paying tuition.
Under the changes, it will be tougher for a person who enters Korea on a short-term visa to convert it to one for studying here.
No conversion will be allowed for people from 21 countries whose citizens are classified as prone to staying illegally.
Meanwhile, the privileged D-2-7 visa for work and studying will be extended to students who are on full scholarship or engineering majors who have a recommendation from university presidents. Currently, only government-invited students can be given an extension.
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