The number of foreigners employed in Korea has reached an unprecedented level, with the majority earning between 2 million and 3 million won per month. (Image courtesy of Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Korea Bizwire) – The South Korean government announced measures on Wednesday to relax visa requirements for skilled foreign workers and increase hiring caps for construction firms, aiming to address chronic labor shortages and support regional development.
Under the new policy led by the Ministry of Justice, foreign workers with over five years of experience in South Korea on non-professional employment visas (E-9) or visit employment visas (H-2) can transition to the Skilled Worker Visa (E-7-4) with reduced requirements.
Applicants now have up to two years post-transition to meet Korean language proficiency criteria, a key hurdle for many workers, before the policy expires in 2026. However, family sponsorship is only allowed after meeting the language requirement.
Construction firms will also benefit from revised hiring quotas. Previously, firms could hire 0.1 skilled workers per ₩100 million in annual project value.
The new rule introduces an additional metric of 0.4 workers per ₩100 million in construction capability evaluation value. This change is expected to particularly aid small-scale contractors struggling to secure stable labor due to fluctuating project revenues.
To incentivize employment in non-metropolitan areas, the government will shorten the residency requirement for visa transitions from four years to three for workers recommended by local governments outside Seoul.
Additionally, the Ministry is launching a “Visa and Residency Policy Proposal System,” enabling private-sector stakeholders to suggest policy changes. Proposals will be evaluated by a joint public-private panel considering economic impacts and effects on domestic employment. A pilot phase will begin this month, with full implementation planned for next year.
“These measures reflect our commitment to addressing the labor market’s needs while ensuring balanced regional and economic development,” the Ministry stated, emphasizing continued engagement with industry stakeholders.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
