From May 16 to 18, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada visited South Korea to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and South Korea.
diplomatic relations between Canada and South Korea. It was the first visit by a Canadian prime minister to South Korea in nine years, and on the 17th, he met with President Yoon Seok-yeol
to share their views on the developmental cooperation between Korea and Canada. The meeting
Much was discussed during the meeting, including economic cooperation and active cultural exchange, with the signing of a new youth exchange
MOU was a standout item.
The MOU was about the expansion of working holidays, which will allow more people to take the
This will have a positive impact on the workforce and cultural exchange between the two countries.
and cultural exchanges between the two countries, and we expect it to have a positive impact on the immigration market. So, let's take a closer look at the details of the agreement and its
collaboration and its aftermath.
Canada has a working holiday program that gives young adults from abroad the opportunity to come to Canada, work locally, and enjoy their time here.
and enjoy their time in Canada. Koreans are eligible between the ages of 18 and 30, and can only use the program once in their lifetime.
The role of the visa is similar to that of a regular open work permit, so you can work and live wherever you want.
You can work and live wherever you want, and you can even study a language for up to six months. Thanks to
you can work in Canada, learn the culture and language, and eventually apply for permanent residency.
It's a popular program with a lot of possibilities.
The number of people who can participate in the program is quota-based, meaning that the number of visas issued to each country varies
different countries. South Korea has a default quota of 4,000, but with the surprise announcement this year, they added another 2,500.
This year's surprise announcement added another 2,500, bringing the total number of visas to 6,500. However, the basic number has remained the same at 4,000.
This agreement is a major adjustment to the existing quota, tripling it from 4,000 to 12,000.
This will allow visas to be issued to 12,000 people, three times more than any other country in the world, with the exception of Australia, which has no cap on working holiday numbers.
with the exception of Australia, which has no working holiday cap.
In addition, we'll be relaxing existing working holiday conditions to make it more accessible to more people.
One of the biggest changes we're making is raising the age limit. Currently, those who can apply for a working holiday
age range is 18 to 30 years old, we're changing the age limit to 35 years old. This means that anyone over the age of 30 who is eligible for a Canadian
who were not eligible to apply for a working holiday will have another chance to apply for a working holiday.
to apply for Working Holiday.
The adjustments to the Working Holiday will, among other things, increase youth exchanges, allowing young people to travel more frequently between Canada and Korea to learn about each other's cultures, language and social networks.
to learn about each other's cultures and improve language and social understanding.
Beyond the cultural discussions, it is also likely to have positive practical effects, such as revitalizing the economy and securing a labor force.
and labor force.
The current state of affairs in Canada is one of low unemployment coupled with a declining birthrate and an aging population, which means that while there is no one to work, there are plenty of jobs available.
Canada, so there's an immediate need for more people to fill those jobs,
Bringing in younger workers to fill those positions temporarily through programs like Working Holiday will help solve Canada's labor
Those who choose to come to Canada on a working holiday can also use their time in Canada to improve their language skills, become more competitive, or advance their careers.
language skills to increase their competitiveness, or return home to find better jobs with their experience.
and find better jobs back home, so it's a win-win situation. Korea is facing a similar situation, so it's important that we work together to find the
There is also hope that by working together, we can find the clues we need to overcome these problems together.
Furthermore, the change in the working holiday system is not only about increasing profits between the two countries, but also about personal development.
personal development. Spending time working abroad means more than just broadening one's
It's not just about broadening your experience, it's about changing your life.
Many people change their dreams and career paths as a result of a working holiday, or simply take a break and start over.
Some choose to build on their experience in Canada, leading to long-term employment or permanent residency.
or permanent residency in Canada, so it's great to have a wider range of options.

that's attractive. We're still waiting for more details to be announced, such as when this will go into effect, but we're sure there will be
we expect to hear more soon, and we look forward to seeing more people connect and share their new life experiences
new life experiences.