Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Korea to issue permanent residency to F-5 visa holders
The Ministry of Justice has announced it will start issuing permanent residency for F-5 visa holders. Yonhap
By Jung Min-ho
By Jung Min-ho
The government will replace alien registration certificates with permanent residency for F-5 visa holders, starting Sept. 21.
The Ministry of Justice said Wednesday that people who fit the requirements of staying here permanently can receive permanent residency, which must be renewed every 10 years.
The policy will affect some 130,000 people, about 6 percent of all non-Korean residents here.
F-5 visa holders can switch their certificates to permanent residency immediately; those who want to postpone it can do so for 12 years from the time they obtained their F-5 visas.
Those who violate the rule could face a maximum fine of 2 million won ($1,800).
The ministry said it will notify people the policy affects via mail.