Korea overhauls immigration to draw highly skilled workers, build long-term framework
Published: 03 Mar. 2026, 19:25
Updated: 03 Mar. 2026, 19:28
![Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho unveils the government’s future strategy on immigration policy during a briefing at the ministry's press room at the government complex in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, on March 3. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/03/03/1d23dfa7-1ebf-4a0d-a84e-d2fab513e073.jpg)
Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho unveils the government’s future strategy on immigration policy during a briefing at the ministry's press room at the government complex in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, on March 3. [YONHAP]
Facing a rapidly shrinking workforce and deepening labor shortages, Korea on Tuesday unveiled a sweeping overhaul of its immigration system, aiming to attract more highly skilled foreign workers and build a long-term framework for managing migration through 2030.
The government will expand high-skilled visa pathways, create new channels for foreign graduates of Korean vocational colleges and simplify a complex employment permit system that now spans dozens of categories, Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho announced at the government complex in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi.
“Little has improved over the past 21 years. From now on, we are putting policies in place so that foreign workers can make a full contribution to our industries,” Jung said.
At the center of the changes is an expansion of the so-called “Top-Tier Visa,” previously limited to employees at companies in eight advanced sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence and robotics. The government will now extend eligibility to professors and researchers in science and technology fields, seeking to widen its recruitment of highly trained specialists.
Only 20 people had received the visa as of last month. The Justice Ministry aims to raise that figure to 350 by 2030, including 250 in advanced industries and 100 in science and technology.
The ministry will also introduce a new visa, the E-7-M, for foreign nationals who graduate from manufacturing-related programs at Korean vocational colleges. The visa is intended to supply factories and industrial sites with job-ready technical workers. Business groups have long argued that manufacturers struggle to find skilled personnel as the domestic labor pool shrinks.
More broadly, the government plans to streamline the employment visa system by consolidating 10 visa types and 39 subcategories into three tiers based on skill level: high, mid and low.
![Postings for construction work are seen at a job center in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Oct. 17, 2025. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/03/03/11e772ef-62eb-4ab1-a8eb-9676a559f80e.jpg)
Postings for construction work are seen at a job center in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Oct. 17, 2025. [YONHAP]
The policy shift comes as Korea’s demographic outlook grows more severe. The number of foreign residents is expected to surpass 3 million this year and take up about 5 percent of the whole population. At the same time, the working-age population is projected to decline by 3.13 million by 2030. Industry groups estimate that the country could face a labor shortfall of at least 1.12 million workers.
Beyond recruitment, officials said they would introduce region-specific visas to support businesses in areas facing population decline. Current rules require companies participating in the regional F-2-R visa program to employ at least one Korean worker for more than three months before hiring a foreign national. The Justice Ministry said it would apply special criteria that reflect local conditions, where employers often struggle to hire Korean workers.
To address concerns that foreign labor could undercut wages, the Justice Ministry will establish an advisory committee on foreign workers’ pay. The panel, made up of labor representatives, employer groups and public interest experts, will gather input from various sectors and publish annual wage requirements based on expert research.
![Foreign workers harvest dropwort at a field in Cheolma-myeon, Gijang County, Busan, on Dec. 15, 2025. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/03/03/f6523c32-5368-4d4b-b2f9-97a21108bd89.jpg)
Foreign workers harvest dropwort at a field in Cheolma-myeon, Gijang County, Busan, on Dec. 15, 2025. [YONHAP]
The government also pledged to strengthen social integration policies as the number of children from migrant backgrounds increases. The plan includes expanding Korean language education and improving access to public schooling, with support from multicultural specialists and social integration mentors.
The emphasis on integration comes as public acceptance of immigration remains uneven. A recent report by the Justice Ministry's Migration Research and Training Centre found significant regional differences in attitudes toward migrants.
“Acceptance varies greatly depending on whether migrants are considered ‘permanent immigrants,’ so we need to overhaul the system, including visas,” said Yoo Min-yi, a research fellow at the institute.
Minister Jung said Tuesday that the government had concluded its long-standing reliance on short-term, low-wage foreign labor was no longer sustainable.
“We need to redefine the existing immigration policy centered on attracting and utilizing low-skilled, low-wage foreign workers, and we held multiple discussions with the immigration authorities,” he said.
![Travelers move around Incheon International Airport on Feb. 27. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/03/03/49dd45ec-5cf8-4002-82bd-f52c366e18b2.jpg)
Travelers move around Incheon International Airport on Feb. 27. [YONHAP]
As part of the restructuring, the ministry will elevate the head of the Korea Immigration Service (KIS) to vice ministerial rank, strengthening its authority within the Justice Ministry. Officials decided against separating the KIS into an independent immigration office, saying such a move would create administrative and budgetary burdens.
“Instead of making it independent, we will enhance its status within the ministry to strengthen expertise and more effectively support the minister’s policy implementation functions,” the ministry said.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KIM JEONG-JAE [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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