Over 36,000 overseas Koreans acquire integrated F-4 visa since February change

More than 36,000 people have acquired the integrated F-4 visa for overseas Koreans since its launch about three months ago, the Ministry of Justice said Wednesday.

The ministry suspended the issuance of the H-2 visiting employment visas, mainly intended for ethnic Koreans living in China and six former-Soviet countries, in February and integrated the dual status of residence for ethnic Koreans into the F-4 visa.

Between Feb. 12, when the visa integration took effect, and May 12, 47,632 people applied to change to the F-4 visa, and 36,561 of them were granted approval, the ministry said.

H-2 visa holders were limited to simple labor sectors, such as construction and manufacturing, and a maximum stay of four years and 10 months, prompting complaints that they faced discrimination compared to those from the United States and Western Europe.

By contrast, the F-4 visa allows employment in all sectors, except simple labor and certain service jobs, and can be renewed every three years, allowing holders to stay in Korea continuously.

The ministry also said it will increase the number of community support centers for overseas Koreans to 37 and help stabilize operations by investing government funds starting this year.

Yonhap