Maximum

• There are 80 points available in the General Points category

Age

• Based on birthdate on passport, as of date of visa application.

Korean language ability

• Based on TOPIK level (www.topic.go.kr) or KIIP level (http://www.socinet.go.kr)

Education

• Regular, full degrees

  • College: 2-year program at a technical college (전문대학)

  • BA: any bachelor's degree at a university (대학교)

  • MA: any master's degree at a university

  • PhD: any doctorate degree at a university

• Sci./eng.: Degree in natural sciences or engineering (이공계) field

• Two degrees: irrespective of field

Yearly income

• Taxable income for most recent year available (pre-tax income), based on the income figures that appear on your Korean income tax records

  • Income must appear on your Korean income tax records (소득금액증명서)

Maximum

• There are 87 points available in the Additional Points category, but maximum points allotted is artificially capped at 40

GKS recipient from country that participated in the Korean War

• Global Korea Scholarship students (on D-2-7 visa holders on invitation by Korean government) from one of 22 countries that participated in the Korean War (presumably just on the SK side).

Official recommendation letter

• Letter of recommendation (추천공문) written within past 3 years by an official from a central government institution.

• Letter must be submitted to the immigration office (by applicant) and to the Ministry of Justice (by author?)

• Must include:

  • Name, birthdate, & nationality of person being recommended

  • Reason for recommendation & period of recommendation

  • Name and contact information of government official to contact to verify the letter.

KIIP completion

• Complete all five levels of KIIP (http://www.socinet.go.kr).

Degree from domestic university or top university

• A degree means a standard degree in a regular program (bachelor's, master's, doctorate).

• A top university is any of the following:

  • A school in the list of top 500 schools published by Times Higher Education (www.timeshighereducation.com)

  • A school in the list of top 500 schools published by Quacquarelli Symonds (http://www.topuniversities.com)

  • A "particular foreign university recognized by the Minister of Justice" ("법무부장관이 인정하는 특정 해외 대학"). (Not sure when/how/if this is used.)

Domestic volunteer experience

• Must be at least 6 times and total 50 hours per year.

• From personal experience: must provide documentation indicating exact dates of volunteer service and hours spent on each date.

Maximum

• There are -80 points available in the Deducted Points category

Immigration law violations

• Total of all fines for immigration law violations within the past 3 years, as the of the date of application

Criminal law violations

• Punishment that exceeds fines applies to any such case (not just last 3 years)

• Any individual criminal penalty (not total (?)) within last 3 years

• Includes criminal penalties (벌금), but not fines (과태료).
  (Not sure about the exact legal difference between the two)

Law violation by self (if an invited individual) or by family member

• Violations include any of the following:

  • Currently illegally residing in South Korea

  • Financial penalty (벌금) of 1,000,000 KRW or more within last three years

  • Requested to leave SK, ordered to leave SK, or forcibly deported at any point in the past

• Who exactly is an "invited individual"? No idea.

An F-2-7 is valid for 1 to 5 years. How long you get is determined by your points.

1 year 

• 80-99 total points OR 

• 29 or fewer income points

1 year to 3 years

• 100-129 total points OR 

• 30-49 income points

3 years to 5 years

• 130+ total points OR 

• 50+ more income points