Han Dong-hoon, the Minister of Justice, announced his commitment on Monday to provide permanent residency opportunities to verified foreign workers who can contribute to the national interest. (Image courtesy of Yonhap News)
SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Korea Bizwire) – Han Dong-hoon, the Minister of Justice, announced his commitment on Monday to provide permanent residency opportunities to verified foreign workers who can contribute to the national interest.
This statement was made as he unveiled the ‘Innovative Measure for Expansion of the Skilled Technical Workforce’ at the Government Complex in Gwacheon.
Under this plan, the Ministry of Justice intends to raise the annual quota for issuing E-7-4 visas, designated for skilled technical workers allowing long-term stays, from the current 2,000 to 35,000.
Han emphasized that this measure would bring a significant shift to the paradigm of Korean policy and the employment of foreign workers.
South Korea’s foreign worker employment system has been built upon the Employment Permit System introduced in 2004. Businesses struggling to hire employees domestically can hire foreign workers with government approval. The primary visa issued under this system is the E-9 (non-professional employment) visa.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the estimated number of foreign workers holding E-9 visas is around 300,000. Among them, approximately 19 percent, or 56,000, are now residing in Korea illegally.
The maximum duration of stay permitted by this visa is nine years and eight months, with no provisions for foreign workers to extend their stay beyond that period. Family invitations and applications for permanent residency are not permitted.
In contrast, E-7-4 visas have been issued to approximately 10,000 individuals, and the number of illegal residents remains low at 55 or 0.6 percent.
J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)
