SEOUL, Jul. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – In a move to ensure equal access to justice for non-Korean speakers, the National Court Administration of South Korea inaugurated a Court Interpretation Center at the Seoul Eastern District Court on July 17. The center, which began operations on July 1, aims to provide consistent interpretation services to courts nationwide [...]
SEJONG, Apr. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – The proportion of foreign residents in South Korea’s total population could rise to around 7 percent over the next two decades, according to newly released government projections that underscore the country’s changing demographics amid a declining birthrate. If current trends accelerate, one out of every 10 people in the nation’s [...]
SEOUL, Apr. 2 (Korea Bizwire) — Foreigners and overseas Koreans can only become eligible for the state health insurance coverage as dependents if they reside in South Korea for at least six months, according to the health ministry Tuesday. The tightened rule, which goes into effect Wednesday, comes as some foreigners have reportedly exploited the [...]
JEONJU, Mar. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – Faced with a continuing population decline, the government of North Jeolla Province announced on March 18 that it would introduce a region-specific visa program aimed at attracting skilled foreign workers and ethnic Koreans living abroad. The new visa policy seeks to ease requirements for certain qualified foreigners and overseas Koreans, [...]
SEOUL, Mar. 6 (Korea Bizwire) – In response to the growing care service staff shortage, the Bank of Korea (BOK) has suggested employing foreign workers and applying a differential minimum wage to mitigate the issue, sparking discussions about its feasibility. Labor unions criticize this measure as a temporary solution, highlighting the need to improve the conditions [...]
SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — The hiring of foreigners will be further expanded in South Korea’s labor-intensive industries, beginning next year, the government said Friday, finalizing a plan to bring in an all-time high of 165,000 non-professional migrant workers in 2024 to tackle growing labor shortages. Hotels, condos and restaurants, among others, will be [...]
SEOUL, Nov. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea will double the maximum limit of purchases eligible for an immediate tax refund by foreign tourists to 5 million won (US$3,831) next year to attract overseas visitors and bolster the tourism industry, the finance ministry said Monday. Currently, the country provides on-the-spot tax refunds for an individual [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 27 (Korea Bizwire) – Starting next year, foreigners will be required to stay in South Korea for a minimum of six months to qualify for health insurance dependent status. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Health Insurance Service on Thursday, a revision to the Health Insurance Act that introduces [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 12 (Korea Bizwire) — About 36,000 foreigners were arrested on criminal charges annually on average over the past five years, about half of them from China, National Police Agency (NPA) data showed Thursday. A total of 180,162 foreigners were apprehended as suspects in criminal cases from 2018 to 2022, recording an annual average [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – Shop owners in Hambak Village, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, which is home to a significant foreign population, have come together to demand protection for their business rights. On September 18, more than 50 members of the Task Force for the Survival Rights of Local Shop Owners in Hambak Village gathered in front [...]