foreign worker Archives | Be Korea-savvy
Foreign Workers in South Korea Top 1 Million for First Time

Foreign Workers in South Korea Top 1 Million for First Time

SEJONG, Dec. 18 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s foreign workforce has reached a historic milestone, surpassing 1 million workers for the first time, with nearly half employed in mining and manufacturing sectors, according to government data released December 17.  A Statistics Korea report on immigrant residency and employment showed that as of May, the number of [...]

Foreign Workers in South Korea Owed Nearly 70 Billion Won in Unpaid Wages

Foreign Workers in South Korea Owed Nearly 70 Billion Won in Unpaid Wages

SEOUL, Sept. 9 (Korea Bizwire) – As South Korea grapples with record-breaking levels of wage arrears this year, a new report has revealed that foreign workers have borne a disproportionate share of the burden, with unpaid wages totaling nearly 70 billion won in the first seven months of 2024.  According to data obtained from the Ministry [...]

In Rural South Korea, a Model Dormitory Transforms Life for Seasonal Workers

In Rural South Korea, a Model Dormitory Transforms Life for Seasonal Workers

HAMYANG, Aug. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – For A, a 31-year-old Vietnamese worker, home in South Korea is a dormitory that defies expectations. Arriving in March with 35 colleagues under a seasonal worker agreement between Hamyang County and Vietnam’s Nam Tra My district, A initially harbored concerns about potentially harsh working conditions. Those worries have since dissipated. [...]

Shipyards Tackle Manpower Shortage with Foreign Worker Initiatives

Shipyards Tackle Manpower Shortage with Foreign Worker Initiatives

SEOUL, June 13 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean shipyards are making various efforts to attract foreign workers in response to a shortage of manpower. The nation’s shipbuilding industry is expected to face a shortage of approximately 13,000 production workers in the third quarter of this year, according to the Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association. HD [...]

Marriage Visa Rule Change Encourages Korean Spouses to Learn Foreign Language

Marriage Visa Rule Change Encourages Korean Spouses to Learn Foreign Language

SEOUL, Oct. 9 (Korea Bizwire) – A recent legislative change will make it easier for an immigrant spouse to acquire a South Korean visa if his or her Korean partner is willing to learn the spouse’s mother tongue. The Ministry of Justice announced Monday that the Korean language qualification required for a marriage visa will [...]

No. of Foreign Residents in S. Korea More than Doubles in Decade

No. of Foreign Residents in S. Korea More than Doubles in Decade

SEOUL, Jun. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of foreign residents in South Korea has more than doubled over the past decade, with Vietnamese nationals accounting for the largest portion after China as of last year, government data showed Wednesday. The number of non-Korean citizens totaled 2.05 million as of end-December 2016, up from 910,000 [...]

S. Korea Lags Behind Rivals in Attracting Foreign Talent

S. Korea Lags Behind Rivals in Attracting Foreign Talent

SEOUL, May 17 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea lags behind rival industrialized countries in attracting talented foreign workers, various industry data showed Tuesday, despite the government’s effort to ease its visa issuance system to cope with the country’s declining labor force. The number of foreigners residing in South Korea jumped from 1.4 million in 2011 [...]

Most SMEs in Korea Against Foreign Worker Levy

Most SMEs in Korea Against Foreign Worker Levy

SEOUL, Mar. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — Most small and medium enterprises in South Korea are against the government’s push to adopt the foreign worker levy, citing an increased financial burden and questioning its effect in boosting the employment of domestic jobseekers, a survey showed Sunday. The government plans to introduce a new levy system, in [...]

Mobile Service Calculates Severance Pay for Foreign Workers

Mobile Service Calculates Severance Pay for Foreign Workers

SEOUL, Nov.24 (Korea Bizwire) – The Human Resources Development Service of Korea announced that it will be managing a mobile service that calculates severance pay until the end of the year, to offer a more convenient option for business owners and foreign workers. The service can be used by going to the EPS homepage (http://www.eps.go.kr), [...]