Oh Se-hoon: "Concerns Over Half-Measures for Foreign Domestic Workers... 'Gasa Sayongin' Should Be Added"

Attended National Assembly Seminar "Worried One Week Before Service Launch"
'Domestic Worker' Should Be Added to E7 Visa Eligible Occupations
National Assembly, Local Governments, and Relevant Ministries Form Consultative Body to Prepare Response

On June 27, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon stated that "'Domestic worker' should be added to the list of occupations eligible for the E7 visa" in relation to the issue of foreign domestic helpers. This measure comes in response to the increased cost burden caused by applying the same minimum wage to the foreign domestic helper system introduced by Seoul City. The city believes that if employment is conducted under the 'in-house employment method,' the minimum wage does not need to be applied.

Mayor Oh attended a seminar titled "What is the problem with the wages of Filipino domestic helpers?" held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building that morning, where he said, "Even now, just a week before the start of the (foreign domestic helper) service, there are ongoing worries and concerns that the system, which was difficult to introduce, might end up being only half-effective," and presented this direction for improvement.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon attending the seminar "What is the Problem with Filipino Domestic Workers' Wages?" held on the morning of the 27th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building.
[Photo by Seoul City]

The foreign domestic helper system was a project promoted by Mayor Oh as part of measures to address low birth rates, proposed to the government. It attracted attention as a solution for caregivers who face career interruptions or give up childbirth due to soaring care costs amid a decline in domestic care workers and an aging population. However, the high cost became a point of controversy. Foreign domestic helpers are subject to the same hourly minimum wage as domestic workers (9,860 KRW this year), which means they receive 2.38 million KRW per month for full-time work of 8 hours a day. While it alleviates excessive childcare burdens, it also imposes a new problem of cost burden.

Political criticism continued. Yoo Hye-mi, Chief Secretary for Low Birth Rate Response at the Presidential Office, pointed out, "We need to consider ways to reduce the cost burden in some aspects," and Na Kyung-won, a member of the People Power Party, held a related seminar at the National Assembly advocating for differentiated application of minimum wages for foreign workers.

On the same day, Mayor Oh also expressed concern that, according to ILO (International Labour Organization) conventions and the Labor Standards Act, applying the minimum wage is inevitable, saying, "The original purpose of proposing the system was to broaden the choices for caregivers at a reasonable cost, but at the current cost, it will not be sustainable."

He also voiced dissatisfaction, saying, "Regarding the issue of foreign domestic helpers, the Ministry of Justice has consistently taken an overly cautious and passive stance on Seoul City's proposal to add 'domestic worker' to the list of occupations eligible for the E7 visa." In particular, he criticized, "Although the Ministry of Justice has said it will introduce measures to expand domestic worker activities for foreign students residing in Korea, graduates, and spouses of foreign workers, considering the imminent care crisis, this is only a temporary measure," and added, "What the Ministry of Justice should do is strengthen management of employers and private companies and thoroughly prepare on-site measures against illegal stay."

Regarding the entire government, he urged, "Instead of just sitting and complaining about side effects, they should actively come forward to pool wisdom to solve the problem." Mayor Oh proposed, "The introduction of foreign care workers should not be approached simply as a matter of foreign visa approval by the Ministry of Justice or labor policy by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, but should be set as a national future agenda, and a consultative body involving the National Assembly, local governments, and related ministries should be formed to prepare countermeasures."

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