A bilateral deal allowing up to 400 Irish and Korean young people to spend a 12-month working holiday in each other's country came into in March 2010 in a move announced by the Minister for Education and Science, Batt O'Keeffe TD, on a visit to Seoul for St Patrick's Day.
The two countries' embassies are now accepting applications for the Working Holiday Agreement for those aged between 18 and 30.
In its first year, 400 young people from each country can take part in the programme, with the number of visas issued annually reviewed on an ongoing basis.They will be allowed to work to cover their travel expenses and to do short-term study courses.
On his visit to Seoul where he was leading an Irish delegation for St Patrick's Day, Minister O'Keeffe described the agreement as 'an important milestone in the bilateral relationship between Ireland and the Republic of South Korea'.
'It will enhance the scope for Korean and Irish nationals to experience each other's culture and way of life so that we can continue to forge links and build mutual understanding between the two countries,' said Minister O'Keeffe.
Republic of Korea citizens who want to apply for a working holiday visa should contact the Embassy of Ireland in Seoul (www.embassyofireland.or.kr) on +(822) 774 6455.
Irish citizens should apply to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Dublin (http://irl.mofat.go.kr) on (01) 660 8800.
According to figures issued by the Korean Immigration Service for 2008, 438 Irish citizens were living in the Republic of Korea.Of those, 301 were foreign language instructors.
Ireland opened an embassy in Seoul in September, 1989.
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