Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok Requests Key Issue Support from Minister Han Dong-hoon

Suggestions for Introducing Visa-Free Entry at Muan Airport and Resolving Foreign Worker Shortage

Minister Han: "Will Actively Consider Measures to Ensure Prevention of Illegal Entry and Take Necessary Actions"

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, requested support for key issues from Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice.

According to Jeonnam Province on the 10th, Governor Kim asked Minister Han at the Gwacheon Government Complex to introduce a visa-free entry system at Muan International Airport and to improve the system for securing foreign workers in the shipbuilding and agriculture and fisheries sectors, which are experiencing severe labor shortages.

Governor Kim said, “We are promoting the resumption of international routes at Muan International Airport as daily life recovers from COVID-19, but there are difficulties in attracting overseas tourists due to visa approvals,” adding, “Please introduce a visa-free entry system so that Muan International Airport can leap forward as the gateway airport of the southwestern region and so that the 2022-2023 Jeonnam Visit Year and international events in the Honam region can succeed.”

Currently, citizens of Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia must obtain a visa from overseas diplomatic missions to enter Korea, but if the visa-free system is introduced, they will be able to conveniently enter through Muan International Airport without a visa.

Accessibility to the Honam region from Asian countries is expected to improve significantly, greatly aiding in attracting foreign tourists.

Regarding securing foreign workers in the shipbuilding and agriculture and fisheries sectors, Governor Kim said, “Visa system improvements are absolutely necessary to secure foreign workers for the shipbuilding industry, which has suffered severe labor shortages due to increased order volumes,” and “Please establish a national-level dedicated agency for foreign worker introduction to support the stable securing of seasonal workers reflecting the demand of farms and fisheries, and ease excessive sanctions on local governments where foreign seasonal workers have left.”

Recently, with the increase in ship orders, the shipbuilding industry is recovering, but due to domestic workers’ reluctance to work in shipbuilding and a shortage of foreign workers, shipbuilding companies are facing situations where they cannot meet order volumes on time.

In April, the Ministry of Justice abolished quotas for ship welders and ship painters to ensure stable introduction of skilled personnel and allowed employment of foreign workers up to 20% of domestic workers, but the industry is calling for further deregulation.

Jeonnam Province’s position is to allow foreign employment up to 50% of domestic workers to practically resolve the labor shortage in the shipbuilding industry and to relax the requirement for converting from a non-professional employment (E-9) visa to a specific activity (E-7) visa from “working for more than 5 years” to “more than 4 years.”

The seasonal worker system, currently implemented to secure labor in rural areas where work is needed at specific times, is led by basic local governments that make agreements with overseas local governments and take full responsibility for everything from selection to management of foreign seasonal workers.

This has led to other issues such as seasonal worker desertion and broker involvement.

Governor Kim said, “I hope that with the introduction of visa-free entry at Muan International Airport, more Asians can directly enjoy the charm of Jeonnam,” and “I expect active support from the Ministry of Justice so that the labor market stabilizes through the prompt replenishment of foreign workers needed in industrial and agriculture and fisheries sites.”

In response, Minister Han Dong-hoon promised, “The future of the country is uncertain without measures against population extinction and solutions to foreign worker issues,” and “The introduction of a visa-free entry system at Muan International Airport will be actively reviewed on the premise of definitely preventing illegal entry.”

He added, “Foreign worker policies require the establishment of a control tower at the national level,” and “We will take necessary measures regarding the major issues proposed by Jeonnam Province in each field.”

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