Foreign entertainers stand up against abuse in Korea

By Lee Min-young, Kim Kang-min

Foreign and immigrant artists of all types - actors, models, voice actors, musicians, dancers, and many more - have been adding to the richness of Korean society for decades. And most of them are on the E-6 Culture and Entertainment Visa.

However, some say the system for E-6 visa holders is flawed that it only offers enforcement protections to Korean citizens and entirely excludes the largest percentage of foreign artists working and paying taxes in Korea. This lack of protection puts all E-6 visa holders, and by extension all foreign artists, in a very vulnerable position.

According to a poll of F and E-6 visa holders working in the television, advertising and film industries, the majority had never been offered a contract to sign for their work.