As the United States recently raised fees for professional visas (H-1B) sharply, the government on the 14th finalized the allocation of reserve funds for publicity to attract top overseas talent to Korea. President Lee Jae-myung chaired a cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan that day and reviewed and approved five bills, including the "2025 general account reserve fund expenditure plan" worth 5.12 billion won, 14 presidential decrees, and three general agenda items.
The reserve fund expenditure plan that cleared the cabinet meeting threshold that day is a measure taken in light of changes in external conditions, as President Donald Trump has moved to crack down on large-scale undocumented immigrants and raise the H-1B issuance fee from the current $1,000 (about 1.4 million won) to $100,000 (about 140 million won). Using the Trump administration's visa fee increase as a momentum, the government decided to spend reserve funds on publicity needed to draw top overseas researchers to Korea.
In connection with claims for compensation for COVID-19 vaccine injuries, which are scheduled to take effect on the 23rd, the government also approved the "enforcement decree of the special act on compensation for COVID-19 vaccination injuries," which contains specific procedures and payment criteria. It specifies the scope of medical personnel and pharmaceutical experts who can be appointed as Commissioners to the COVID-19 Vaccination Injury Compensation Committee and the Reexamination Committee. The related special act passed the National Assembly plenary session on Apr. 4th.
It also approved a partial amendment to the enforcement decree of the act on the designation and operation of peace economy special zones to additionally designate Gapyeong County in Gyeonggi and Sokcho City in Gangwon as peace economy special zones. The peace economy special zone aims to create region-specific specialized industrial complexes in areas adjacent to North Korea for the purpose of balanced national development and realizing inter-Korean economic cooperation. So far, 15 cities and counties, including Gimpo, Paju, Dongducheon, and Pocheon in Gyeonggi, and Cheorwon and Chuncheon in Gangwon, have been designated as peace economy special zones.