The Ministry of Justice on Tuesday unveiled its "2030 Immigration Policy Future Strategy," lowering barriers for high-skilled workers in advanced industries such as artificial intelligence and robotics.
The policy shift comes as nations worldwide compete fiercely for top talent in cutting-edge sectors, with Korean officials acknowledging the domestic talent pool falls short of demand. The strategy also aims to address declining working-age population due to low birth rates and aging demographics while boosting economic vitality.
"The current employment permit system directly imports low-skilled workers from overseas, and there have been criticisms that it has limitations in enhancing social competitiveness and integration," Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho said at a briefing.
The numbers underscore the imbalance. Low-skilled foreign residents grew from 295,196 in 2017 to 403,995 as of December last year—an increase of more than 100,000 over eight years. During the same period, professional workers rose by only about 60,000, from 45,685 to 105,165.
Expanding Top-Tier Visa Program
The government significantly broadened eligibility and benefits under existing programs. The "Top-Tier Visa," previously limited to corporate workers in eight advanced industries including semiconductors, AI and robotics, now extends to professors and researchers. The ministry plans to increase recipients from just 20 in February this year to 350 by 2030.
Fast-Track Residency for Science Graduates
The K-STAR visa track for science and technology graduates expanded dramatically. The fast-track to permanent residency and naturalization, previously available only to graduates of five institutions—KAIST, DGIST, UNIST, GIST and UST—now covers 32 universities. This aims to boost annual recruitment of top talent from 100 to more than 500.
New Visa for Mid-Level Technical Workers
To address manufacturing labor shortages, the ministry will create the "K-CORE Visa" (E-7-M) for cultivating mid-level technical workers. Under this program, foreign workers will receive training at Korean vocational colleges in 16 designated technical fields including automobile manufacturing and precision machinery before entering the workforce.
"K-CORE visa holders can bring their families," said Cha Yong-ho, head of the Immigration and Foreign Policy Headquarters. "Existing foreign workers couldn't bring families and focused only on production, but with families, they can become consumers as well."
Streamlined Visa Categories
The current system of 10 types and 39 categories of work visas will be reorganized into three tiers: high, mid and low-skilled. Officials said the existing codes had been created sporadically in response to industry and education sector demands rather than through systematic design.
Support for Depopulating Regions
For 89 municipalities designated as population-declining areas by the Ministry of Interior and Safety, the government will pilot a "Regional Vitality Small Business Special Program" allowing small business owners to hire foreign workers. A regional immigration package will provide employment and startup information, social integration education and childcare support.
Safeguarding Domestic Workers
To prevent adverse effects on Korean workers, the ministry will establish a "Foreign Worker Wage Advisory Committee" to set minimum wage requirements by industry and worker type. The measure addresses complaints from local labor groups that direct hiring of foreign workers in the shipbuilding industry in recent years has driven down wages for skilled domestic workers.
"In an era of severe low birth rates and aging population, we concluded that immigration policy cannot be implemented the same way as in the past," Minister Jung said. "We will push forward each task with urgency so that immigration policy can contribute to the national and household economy."