The South Korean government is launching a pilot program to train foreign workers in their home countries before their employment in South Korea. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, March 14 (Korea Bizwire) — In a bid to address the growing demand for skilled foreign labor, the South Korean government, in collaboration with local municipalities, is launching a pilot program to train foreign workers in their home countries before their employment in South Korea.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on Thursday that it is partnering with the city of Ulsan to initiate a tailored workforce development program for the shipbuilding sector.
Set to commence this month, the initiative will provide specialized training in Uzbekistan, equipping workers with skills specific to the shipbuilding industry before their entry into South Korea through the Employment Permit System (E-9 visa). Once trained, the workers will be matched with small and mid-sized shipbuilding companies in Ulsan.
The ministry emphasized that the introduction of this cooperative model stems from the increasing demand for industry-specific skilled labor. The program seeks to streamline the integration of foreign workers by ensuring they are trained in the necessary skills and work environments before arriving in South Korea.
Under the initiative, foreign workers selected through the Employment Permit System will undergo preliminary training in Uzbekistan, focusing on shipbuilding techniques and industry-specific operational conditions. The program anticipates training approximately 280 workers in 2025, with participants expected to arrive in South Korea between July and December of this year.
The Ulsan municipal government will oversee the training’s funding and administration, ensuring that the curriculum aligns with the needs of local shipbuilders. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Employment and Labor will facilitate job placements for program graduates, prioritizing employment at small and mid-sized shipyards in Ulsan.
Uzbekistan’s government is also supporting the initiative by providing training facilities and expediting the dispatch process. The South Korean labor ministry views the program as a significant shift toward a demand-driven approach in foreign labor recruitment, allowing municipalities and businesses to directly participate in workforce development.
This photo, provided by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, shows cranes at Samsung Heavy Industries’ shipyard in Geoje, 470 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
“This initiative shortens the adaptation period for foreign workers while enhancing workplace safety and productivity,” the ministry stated. “By equipping workers with necessary skills before their arrival, the program is expected to minimize industrial accidents and improve operational efficiency.”
Depending on the pilot program’s outcomes, the government plans to expand similar workforce development initiatives across different industries and regions. The Ministry of Employment and Labor is also looking to systematize foreign worker training under the Employment Permit System, both pre- and post-arrival.
Existing employer-led training programs in labor-sending countries will be expanded to accommodate industry demands, particularly in manufacturing and shipbuilding. Additionally, a separate talent pool of trained foreign workers will be managed to prioritize job placements for sectors in need of specialized skills.
For newly arrived workers, the government is set to introduce specialized training programs immediately after entry, allowing businesses to place them on-site upon completion. In the first half of 2025, the program will be trialed in the manufacturing sector, with plans to extend to other industries based on demand.
To mitigate financial burdens on employers, the government will leverage paid training leave policies. Incentives such as priority employment matching, increased hiring quotas, and re-entry privileges will also be introduced to encourage participation from both businesses and foreign workers.
“We will first roll out this collaborative model in the shipbuilding sector—one of South Korea’s key industries—and gradually expand it to other fields in partnership with local governments and businesses,” said Kim Min-seok, Vice Minister of Employment and Labor. “Our goal is to refine the selection and training system to ensure that foreign workers can seamlessly integrate and upskill within the South Korean workforce.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
