S.Korea to expand quota of foreign skilled workers to 35,000

The South Korean Ministry of Justice announced on Monday that it will expand the quota of foreign skilled workers from the current 2,000 to 35,000.

Even foreign workers who have entered South Korea with an E-9 visa for simple labor can obtain an E-7-4 visa as skilled workers if they have resided in the country for more than four years and have a certain level of proficiency in the Korean language.

Foreigners wishing to transition to skilled worker status must score 200 points or higher in a 300-point assessment process and receive a recommendation from the company where they have been working for at least one year (as of the application date).

Once classified as skilled workers, they must work for their current employer for an additional two years. After meeting residency and income requirements for five years or more post-transition, they can obtain residence (F-2) or permanent residency (F-5) status.

"We will timely introduce various policy measures to ensure that foreign science, technology experts, and skilled workers contribute to the development of South Korea," South Korean Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon said.

Write to Si-On Park at ushire908@hankyung.com