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South Korea plans to issue skilled worker visas
The move aims to alleviate staffing shortages faced by the country's industrial and farming sectors, as younger South Koreans show reluctance towards blue-collar jobs.
Seoul: South Korea plans to issue a record number of visas for foreign skilled workers this year, with the justice minister announcing a significant increase in the annual quota to 30,000.
The move aims to alleviate staffing shortages faced by the country's industrial and farming sectors, as younger South Koreans show reluctance towards blue-collar jobs.
The E-7-4 visa program's annual quota has progressively risen from 300 in 2017 to 2,000 in 2022. However, this year's increase to 30,000 marks the largest jump yet and is expected to alleviate chronic shortages of skilled workers in manufacturing and agriculture. Initially, South Korea intended to cap the quota at 5,000 for the current year.
Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon emphasized the need to discard concerns about foreigners being unable to enter due to limited quota, as the government seeks to address the issue. In response to industry requests, the visa application criteria will also be relaxed, according to the Ministry of Justice.