An Introduction to the Korea Industrial
Chapter 1.
Technology Foundation and the Gold Card System
The Korea Industrial
1 Technology Foundation
1. Introduction
The Korea Industrial Technology
Foundation was established in March
Technology Foundation and the Gold Card System
2001 as an organization jointly
supported by the government and the
An Introduction to the Korea Industrial
private sector, to play a vital role in the
promotion of Korea's industrial tech-
nology.
Amid unlimited competitions in the
21st century, the Korea Industrial
Technology Foundation -- a center of
the network composed of the indus-
tries, the academic world and the vari-
ous research institutes -- plays the role
of supporting companies and the
government as they strive to maximize
potentials for technological innovation
so that Korea can emerge as a leading
industrial power.
Major Contributing Organizations
Ministry of Commerce, Industry and
Energy, Federation of Korean
Industries, Korea Chamber of Co-
mmerce & Industry, Korea Federation
of Small and Medium Business, Korea
Venture Business Associ-ation, Korea
Iron & Steel Associ-ation, Korea
Association of Machi-nery Industry,
006
Electronics Industries Association of
Korea, Korea Semiconductor Industry
Associ-ation, Korea Federation of
Textile Industries, Korea Aerospace
Industries Association, Bio-industry
Association of Korea, Korea Specialty
Chemical Industry Association, Korea
Association for Photonics Industry
Develop-ment, K. C. Tech, EnzBank,
etc.
2. Major Functions
(1) Establishing an organic network
among technology innovators.
(2) Promoting a pan-national tech-
nological culture and diffusion of an
industrial technological culture.
(3) Educating high-quality human
resources and the establishment of the
infrastructure for the use of the needed
workforce.
(4) Providing information on advan-
ced industrial technology and the
establishment of an international
network of technological coo-peration.
(5) Conducting research for national
industrial technological policies and
proposing directions for the de-
velopment of high-tech industrial
technolo-gical sectors.
3. Major Projects
(1) Diffusion of Industrial Technology
The foundation organizes various
exhibitions, awards ceremonies and
forums to spread a technological cul-
ture to the people and to provide mar-
ket friendly services to the corpora-
tions.
The activities conducted and supported
by the foundation include the follow-
ing: "New Tech Korea"; projects to
transfer technology owned by universi-
ties; awards for people of merit who
make distinguished contribution to the
development of industrial technolo-gy;
industrial technological innovation
awards; Techno Forum 21; CEO
forums; national technological pro-
motion projects; providing support to
industrial technological advisory
groups; loan projects for industrial
foundations; technological campaigns
conducted through the media; and the
publication of the KOTEF News and
KOTEF Journal.
(2) Industrial Technology Networking
For an effective information exchange
among numerous and varied technolo-
gical innovation organizations, the
foundation establishes a domestic and
international system of cooperation and
encourages the forging of closer ties
among organizations to produce a sy-
nergy effect for technological innova-
tion.
The foundation's activities in this area
include: the operation of national
technological innovation groups; the
operation of the joint-secretariat of the
Technology Foundation and the Gold Card System
University Industrial Technology Force
(UNITEF); the establishment of the
An Introduction to the Korea Industrial
contents of itsTV; project to establish
techno yellow pages; the operation of
best-products clubs; project manage-
ment for members; and the operation of
the Korea Technology Center
(KOTECH).
(3) Human Resources Development
& Education
To nurture a workforce that will lead
the nation's industries and to cope with
labor shortages in small- and medium-
sized companies and unemployment
problems among science and engineer-
ing majors, the foundation has prepared
its human resources placement system.
Projects in this field include the follow-
ing: CEO engineering education su-
pport projects; projects for training an
innovate workforce in local commu-
nities; projects for supporting the train-
ing at research institutes; projects for
the development and diffusion of
creative engineering education; esta-
007
 An Introduction to the Korea Industrial
Chapter 1.
Technology Foundation and the Gold Card System
blishing a statistical system to grasp
current trends in the supply of indus-
trial technological human resources;
the publication of a national map for
technological human resources; and a
project to make on-the-job training
count toward university course credits.
Technology Foundation and the Gold Card System
(4) Industrial Technology Policy
Research
An Introduction to the Korea Industrial
Through research and survey activities
on technologically advanced systems,
the foundation prepares for a Korea-
compatible industrial policy and
proposes comprehensive directions for
high-tech industries and various related
technology fields.
The foundation's activities in this area
include: drawing up an industrial
technology road-map; drawing up a
components and materials road-map;
drawing up a road-map for interna-
tional industrial cooperation; establish-
ing an information system on China's
industry and industrial technological
competitiveness; establishing and
operating an inter-corporate panel for
industrial technological innovation; and
conducting research on the major
issues of industrial technological
policies.
(5) International Collaboration
To help strengthen Korea's national
008
competitiveness, the foundation provi-
des information on industrial tech-
nology from advanced industrialized
countries. The foundation is also acti-
vely engaged in international coopera-
tion activities to assist (1) Korean
companies that are advancing into
overseas markets and (2) those that are
interested in technological cooperation
with foreign corporations.
The foundation's projects in this area
include the following: Korea-Oceania
venture investment consultation
meetings; Korea-EU industrial techn-
ology cooperation projects; Korea-
Germany high-technology industry
forums; Korea-UK high-technology
industry forums; Korea-Japan univer-
sity students venture camps; Korea-
China-Japan high-tech business
forums; Korea-China venture invest-
ment consultation meetings; Korea-
China techno marts; baseline surveys
of technology investment environments
and dispatching survey teams; creating
task forces for the expansion Of
industrial cooperation between Korea
and China; Korea-Israel I&B techno
marts; support projects for the
attraction of overseas technological
human resources; projects for establ-
ishing industrial technology informa-
tion systems; and projects for establish-
ing various overseas networks.
 Supporting the Project for the
Attraction of Overseas
2 Technological Human
Resources (Gold Card System)
1. Conceptual Explanation of the
Gold Card System
The Korean minister of commerce,
industry and energy issues employment
recommendations for overseas high-
technology human resources to facili-
tate the process of visa applications and
screening (handled by the Justice
Ministry's Immigration Office and
branch offices).
2. History of the Gold Card System
(1) The system was inaugurated on
November 15, 2000 to help meet dom-
estic corporations' growing demand for
experts in such high-tech fields as
information technology (IT) and elec-
tronic commerce.
(2) On August 10, 2003, the Gold Card
System was revised and expanded to
cover seven high-tech fields.
Cooperation with the Immigration
Office has been secured, thus providing
the system users with assistance in
resolving visa-related difficulties,
which had long been considered a
major factor inhibiting the recruitment
of talented human resources from
abroad.
3. Eligibility
(1) Fields
seven high-tech industrial areas
Technology Foundation and the Gold Card System
Before
An Introduction to the Korea Industrial
Electronic commerce (e - business)
Changed on August 10, 2003
After (current status)
Electronic commerce (e - business)
Bio-industry
Nano-technology
Advanced materials
(metal, ceramic, chemical)
Transportation machinery
Digital electronics
Environment and energy
(2) Qualifications
1) Those who have worked for more
than five years in companies engaged
in the seven high-tech industrial areas.
2) Bachelor's degree holders who have
009
 An Introduction to the Korea Industrial
Chapter 1.
Technology Foundation and the Gold Card System

worked for more than two years in (3) Organizer

companies engaged in the seven high- Korea Industrial Technology
tech industrial areas. Foundation

4. The Benefits of the Gold Card (4) Participants

(E-7 Visa) Foreign high-tech professionals who
have entered Korea through the Gold
Non-Gold Gold Card Card System and people from related
Technology Foundation and the Gold Card System

Card (E-7) (E-7)

organizations.
Maximum
An Introduction to the Korea Industrial

duration 2 years 3 years

of stay 6. The Gold Card System Website
1-2 allowed if http://www.goldcard.or.kr
Work
the work
activities Not
activities involve 7. Applications and Inquiries
beyond stay allowed
neighboring
qualifications Department in Charge
high-tech field
Gold card commission office, Korea
Adding Not 1-2 allowed Industrial Technology Foundation
workplaces allowed
E-mail
Types of Visa Single Multiple
goldcard@kotef.or.kr
Tel
82-2- 6009-3143,3146
5. Workshop for Foreign
High-Tech Professionals Fax
82-2- 6009-3187,3188
(1) Purpose
The workshop is held every year to
work out ways to improve the Gold
Card System by accommodating views
from foreign high-tech professionals
who have gained jobs here in Korea
through the system.
(2) Sponsor
Ministry of Commerce, Industry and
Energy

010
 for Foreign High-Tech Professionals

Chapter 2.
Understanding Korea

1. About Korea
2. The Political and Economic Systems of Korea
3. The Society and Culture of Korea
4. History