Gov't to change visa rules to attract 'highly skilled' foreign workers

First Vice Finance Minister Lee Eog-weon, second from right, speaks at a press briefing at the Seoul Government Complex, Wednesday. Yonhap

By Lee Kyung-min

The number of foreign workers whose E-9 visas can be changed to longer-term E-7-4 visas will be increased to 2,000 by 2025 from the current 1,250, the government said Wednesday.

Highly skilled foreign workers who meet related requirements will be granted an F-2 visa immediately, and requirements for academic backgrounds of a certain level or experience will be waived if they have a certain income level.

However, the income requirements for foreign nationals seeking employment will also be raised, to dispel concerns that the change could reduce the number of jobs that otherwise would have been given to Koreans.

Workers of foreign nationality with a proven record of skills and capabilities in what the government recognizes as growth engine industries will be granted employment, even if they belong to a job category that was previously not given the opportunity to get a visa.

These measures were announced by the finance and justice ministries Wednesday, as part of efforts to expand long-term visa programs in order to utilize skilled workers of foreign nationality amid Korea's rapid population decline.

The government will grant different periods of stay depending on the degree of foreign nationals' contributions to the economy, as evidenced by the amount of tax paid.

Long-term stay visas will be set up for remote IT workers whose earnings are above a certain level in their respective home countries.

Also to be newly created will be visas that meet needs specific to regions where municipal government-led projects and policies will be put in place to respond to the population crisis.

Those who have mastered specialized skills and are from China and the 15 former Soviet republics will be given F-4 visas, regardless of their country of origin.

The level of social safety net coverage will vary depending on the type of visa they have, to better navigate challenges involving social integration and respond to the lack of cohesive measures promoting diversity.

These measures will provide specific levels of government social security benefits to workers of foreign nationality whose contributions to the national economy are deemed significant and who are willing to settle here permanently.

The government will also develop a new integration policy index to be measured by the level of individuals' social integration, including the ability to speak Korean. The data will be used in establishing immigration policies.

“We will do our best to promote these policies so that foreigners and Korean citizens can coexist and foster growth,” First Vice Finance Minister Lee Eog-weon said.