Solving Labor Shortages in Local Industries...
Responding to Population Decline
Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 2nd that it has been recruiting candidates for the region-specialized skilled worker (E-7-4R) visa since the 1st, in order to attract foreign talent and address labor shortages in local industries.
The region-specialized visa program is a project that issues region-specialized visas (E-7-4R, F-2-R, F-4-R) to outstanding foreigners who meet certain requirements set by the Ministry of Justice, encouraging employment and residence in population-declining areas to revitalize the local economy and respond to population decline.
Since last month, the county has been recruiting applicants for the region-specialized outstanding local talent (F-2-R) and overseas Korean (F-4-R) visas, and from April, it has been recruiting both existing skilled workers (E-7-R) and region-specialized skilled workers (E-7-4R) visa candidates simultaneously.
The region-specialized skilled worker (E-7-4R) visa targets registered foreigners who have stayed in Korea for more than two years in the past 10 years with non-professional employment (E-9), seafarer employment (E-10), or working visit (H-2) status. The quota is 308 people (based on 22 cities and counties in Jeollanam-do).
Special provisions include: when converting to the existing E-7-4 visa, the domestic stay period was previously limited to at least 3 years in non-metropolitan areas and 4 years in metropolitan areas, but for the region-specialized E-7-4R, this has been eased to 2 years or more; income requirements are not applied for up to four family members when inviting family; and spouses of region-specialized E-7-4R holders can freely engage in employment activities except in restricted fields.
The basic requirements for converting to the region-specialized E-7-4R visa are: currently employed at the same workplace for at least one year; annual salary of at least 26 million KRW and an employment contract for at least the next two years; recommendation from the current employer; and a minimum of 200 points out of a total of 300 points including additional points in the point system. Those planning to work in Gokseong-gun may apply even while seeking employment if they meet the requirements. Foreigners issued the E-7-4R visa must reside in Gokseong-gun, and accompanying family members, including spouses, may also stay together.
The county plans to continuously recruit candidates for the general and region-specialized skilled worker (E-7-4R) visas until the end of this year. Applicants should prepare the application form and related documents and submit them in person to the Population Policy Division (Regional Extinction Response Team). For more details, please refer to the Gokseong-gun Office website (Notices and Announcements).
A county official stated, "We are actively promoting the region-specialized visa program to industrial complexes and companies in the area that are experiencing labor shortages due to the outflow of young people," and added, "We will strive to respond to population decline by ensuring stable workforce supply for companies and supporting the stable settlement of outstanding foreigners in the area."
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