KOICA Enhances Convenience in Issuing Certificates for 'Pakdok Miners and Nurses'

KOICA Digitizes Overseas Dispatched Citizens' Information Through Former Korea Overseas Development Corporation

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] KOICA announced on the 3rd that it has improved the convenience of the certificate issuance process for citizens who were dispatched overseas through the Korea Overseas Development Corporation (KODCO) for foreign currency earnings, such as the Paedok miners and nurses from the 1960s to the 1990s.

After the Korean War in the 1960s, the Korean government established an economic development plan to overcome unemployment and secure foreign currency and loans, and promoted a policy of dispatching overseas manpower. West Germany, having achieved remarkable economic development after World War II, faced a labor shortage in jobs requiring hard physical labor, such as mining, due to an abundance of jobs.

Accordingly, the government dispatched 500 Korean nationals to West German mines for the first time in December 1963 under the condition of loans, and later dispatched 28 nurses in 1966. Subsequently, the Korea Overseas Development Corporation, the predecessor of KOICA, was established, and from July 1966 to April 1994, about 64,000 Korean nationals were actively dispatched overseas. The dispatched countries totaled 54, including West Germany, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia, with occupational personnel such as miners, nurses, pharmaceutical workers, surveyors, security personnel, heavy equipment operators, carpenters, plumbers, accountants, and typists.

KOICA has digitized 29 volumes, totaling 6,604 pages of dispatch records for permanent preservation and automated the certificate issuance system to revive the noble passion of the forgotten overseas dispatched citizens.

Previously, certificates were issued through phone calls, emails, or on-site visits, but now, by accessing ‘KOICA official website → Customer Communication → Certificate Issuance Center,’ users can enter personal information and overseas dispatch details (company name, dispatch country, occupation, departure date, etc.) and apply for certificates, which are then issued after verification by the responsible department.

Yoo Ki-jong, Director of the National Communication Center, said, “We expect to enhance public convenience and improve work efficiency through the automation of overseas dispatched citizens’ certificate processing,” adding, “We will not forget the passion and spirit of the overseas dispatched citizens who were a great support to overcome Korea’s difficult economic situation in the past, and will continue efforts to improve services.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.