Gyeongju City announced on the 19th that it will launch two initiatives: a region-specific skilled worker (E-7-4R) visa recommendation program and a project to improve dormitory facilities for foreign workers.
The visa recommendation program allows foreign workers to change their residency status to encourage longer-term employment. The city plans to allocate roughly 100 slots and will accept applications through September.
Eligible applicants are foreign nationals who have held E-9, E-10, H-2 or similar visas and have resided in Korea for at least two years. Applicants must meet requirements that include a minimum annual salary of 26,000,000 KRW (about $19,500), a work contract that will be maintained for at least two more years, and Korean language ability at TOPIK level 2 or completion of the level-2 social integration program.
The city will also move forward with the dormitory improvement project. It will subsidize renovation costs with a total budget of 200,000,000 KRW (about $150,000). Small and medium-sized enterprises where foreign workers make up at least 20% of the workforce are eligible. Support is capped at 25,000,000 KRW (about $18,750) per company.
