In 2025, South Korea will allow up to 130,000 foreign workers to be employed in the country through a special permit system aimed at addressing labor shortages in specific industries. The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced this decision on Friday, explaining that the cap for foreign workers under the Employment Permit System (EPS) will be reduced from 165,000 this year.
Launched in 2004 to help Korean employers struggling to fill labor gaps, the program partners with 17 countries, and Tajikistan is set to join the list next year.
Under the EPS, foreign workers holding E-9 visas can be employed in sectors like manufacturing, construction, and other industries facing workforce shortages. The number of foreign workers allowed in these sectors is based on demand estimates and considerations of factors like a potential economic downturn.
The distribution of the 130,000 available permits will be as follows: 72,000 for the manufacturing industry, 10,000 for agriculture and dairy, 8,500 for fishing, 3,000 for services, 2,500 for shipbuilding, and 2,000 for construction. Additionally, up to 32,000 more visas will be available based on requests from any of these industries.
The ministry also plans to issue 75,000 E-8 visas for temporary migrant workers in 2025, an increase from this year’s 68,000. These permits allow foreign workers to be employed for up to eight months during busy periods.
