2022

• Established allocation plan for each period reflecting the characteristics and demands of each type of business
• Implemented scoring system for all types of businesses

2021

• Established allocation plan for each period reflecting the characteristics and demands of each type of business
• Implemented scoring system for all types of businesses

2020

• Established allocation plan for each period reflecting the characteristics and demands of each type of business
• Implemented scoring system for all types of businesses

2019

• Established allocation plan for each period reflecting the characteristics and demands of each type of business
• Implemented scoring system for all types of businesses

2018

• Established allocation plan for each period reflecting the characteristics and demands of each type of business
• Implemented scoring system for all types of businesses

2017

• Established allocation plan for each period reflecting the characteristics and demands of each type of business
• Implemented scoring system for all types of businesses

2016

• Established allocation plan for each period reflecting the characteristics and demands of each type of business
• Implemented scoring system for all types of businesses

Feb. 11, 2016

• Recognized as special cases of employment for the firms operating in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex

2015

• Established allocation plan for each period reflecting the characteristics and demands of each type of business
• Implemented scoring system for all types of businesses

Oct. 22, 2015

• Revised Standard Labor Contract
• Newly established Standard Labor Contract for Agriculture and Livestock Industry

December 2015

• Differentiated the period for efforts to employ Nationals
• If actively seeking to employ workers, the period for efforts to employ nationals will be reduced.

2014

• Established allocation plan for each period reflecting the characteristics and demands of each type of business
• Implemented scoring system for all types of businesses

Jun. 30, 2014

Jul. 29, 2014

• Reorganized the regulation on making payment for the departure guarantee insurance after departing the country.
• Prepared Dormant Claims Management Committee Operational Rule
• Prepared the procedure for receipt/usage of application fee for Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK)
• Expanded the reasons for reissuing employment permit

Oct. 13, 2014

2013

• Established allocation plan for each period reflecting the characteristics and demands of each type of business
• Implemented scoring system for all types of businesses

Dec. 20, 2013

• Resolution of foreign workers introduction plan for 2013
  • Managing at a level around 53,000 for general foreign workers, and 303,000 for overseas Koreans.
  • To relieve the problem of lack of workers at the place of business, parts of the quota were assigned in advance in 2012
• Newly introduced businesses and maximum number of workers allowed for each workplace
  • As there is a need to support Ppuri Industry, additional recognition of limitations in new employment is expanded to all the areas of Ppuri Industry
  • Partial increase in the limitation of new employment in the fisheries, and preferential support for the employment of foreign workers by U-turn companies
• Repealed the registration system for the overseas Koreans for being employed in the construction industry, and unified as total management

Apr. 9 – 27, 2012

• Modified the previous first come first served new worker allocation method (conversion into scoring system allocation method)
• The quota for the second half is moved up to first half for certain businesses in 2012 (agriculture and livestock industry: 1,000 / fisheries: 530 / construction: 330)

Jul. 2, 2012

• Prevented illegal stay of the employees whose work authorization has expired.
• Supported continued utilization of skilled workers

• Stopped providing the list of companies giving job offers to prevent illegal brokers from getting involved.
• Strengthened the job placement function of employment center.

Sep. 13, 2012

• Resolution of foreign workers introduction plan for 2013
  • Managing at a level around 62,000 for general foreign workers, and 303,000 for overseas Koreans.
  • To relieve the problem of lack of workers at the place of business, parts of the quota were assigned in advance in 2012
• Expanded special cases of re-entry employment for loyal workers
• Newly introduced businesses and maximum number of workers allowed for each workplace
  • Reduced the limit for recruiting new employees in the manufacturing field./li>
  • Adjusted the limit for recruiting new employees in the construction field depending on the scale of construction.

Aug. 1, 2011

• Repealed the regulation on returning employment permit
• Adjusted the scope of application for departure guarantee insurance, etc. (extended to 4 or less)
• Reorganized regulation on fine for negligence
• Reduced the employment training after entry (20 hrs. ⇒ 16 hrs.)
• Adjusted reemployment application period (45 days/15 days before ⇒ 7 days before)
• Adjusted the scope of work for the agencies (prepared the base for agency business for overseas Koreans)

Nov. 3, 2011

• The Special EPS-TOPIK was conducted for the return workers of Vietnam and Thailand as a pilot project (Dec. 2011).

Dec. 29, 2011

• Resolution of foreign workers introduction plan for 2012
• Newly introduced businesses and maximum number of workers allowed for each workplace (same as 2011)
• Aiming to prepare measures for employees whose work authorization has expired, and resolve the human resources mismatch for small and medium enterprises.

Jan. 24, 2010

• Newly introduced businesses and maximum number of workers allowed for each workplace: same as 2008 & 2009
• Maximum of 2 overseas Koreans may be employed for each workplace only for the first class, second class, and third class tourist hotels.

Apr. 10, 2010

• Prepared the base for canceling the certificate of exceptionally permissible employment
• Added the reasons for restricting employment of foreign workers
• Adjusted the target for imposing penalty and fine for negligence.
• Added the reasons for not including the number of workplace changes in calculation (workers who have not been placed in workplace).

Apr. 12, 2010

• Extended the period for efforts to employ nationals (7 days ⇒ 14 days)
• Rationalized reemployment application period (differentiated to 45 days before, and 15 days before).

Jul. 30, 2010

• Additional introduction of foreign workforce and allocation by type of business (Manufacturing: 8,000 / Agriculture and Livestock Industry: 1,100 / Fishery: 300)

Dec. 24, 2010

• Resolution of foreign workers introduction plan

March, 2009

• Deliberation and resolution on implementation of foreign workers introduction plan and visiting employee system for 2009

November 8, 2008

• Deliberation and resolution on foreign workers introduction plan; the permitted number of workers for manufacturing industry was expanded due to shortage of workforce
• Changed employment permit standards by the workplace in the construction business; employment of foreign workers in the accommodations (Tourist Hotels are included) has been permitted, and maximum number of workers permitted for employment in restaurants has been expanded; and adjusted the number of workers being introduced in the agricultural and livestock industries

November 8, 2007

• Deliberation and resolution on foreign workers introduction plan; the permitted number of workers for manufacturing industry was expanded due to shortage of workforce
• Changed employment permit standards by the workplace in the construction business; employment of foreign workers in the accommodations (Tourist Hotels are included) has been permitted, and maximum number of workers permitted for employment in restaurants has been expanded; and adjusted the number of workers being introduced in the agricultural and livestock industries

February 22, 2007

• Regulated the requirements of issuance of the confirmation document on exceptionally permissible employment for foreign workers subject to exceptionally permissible employment and users

• Deliberation and resolution on implementation of foreign workers introduction plan and visiting employee system for 2007

January 3, 2007

• Reorganized the procedures related to employment for the ethnic Korean Foreign Workers who have made entry into Korea on Working Visit (H-2) Visa

November 30, 2006

• Deliberation of the details of the work plan on Employment Permit System (EPS) regarding the unification of the foreign manpower system in 2007
  • Additional designation of train recommendation group of the Industrial Trainee System as agencies for Employment Permit System (EPS)
  • Scope of work for the agencies
  • Selection method of foreign workers
  • Conducting employment training on foreign workers
  • Post-management and collecting post-management fee, etc. on foreign workers

July 1, 2006

• Rearrangement of procedures due to the integration of confirmation document on lack of manpower and employment permit document, regulation of the reasons for cancelling S-TOPIK, etc.

March 14, 2006

• Deliberation of the introduction scale of foreign workers (105,000 workers) and additionally permitted businesses for introduction (Aquaculture, Repair of Motor Vehicles Specific Part, Motor Vehicle Cleaning Services, Saunas, Collection and Wholesale of Recycling Materials), maximum permitted employment by size of the workplace, selection of origin country (10 countries), etc. for 2006

December 30, 2005

• Deletion of regulation on issuance of confirmation document on lack of manpower (effective from July 1, 2006)
• Prepared a legal basis for the management of S-TOPIK, including the designation and cancellation of the institution in charge of S-TOPIK (delegated to Presidential Decree)
• Permission for employment on type of business was expanded for foreign workers subject to exceptionally permissible employment
  • Manufacturing, Agricultural and Livestock Industry, or Inshore and Coastal Fishing, in which the business or workplace is decided by Policy Committee in consideration of the characteristics of each of the industry
• Repealed regulation on mandatory reporting of employers on initiation of work (July 1, 2006)
• Newly established a provision on imposition of fine for negligence for those who were late in making monthly payment or trust money at least 3 times on departure guarantee insurance, etc.

November 30, 2005

• Added requirements for issuance of confirmation document on lack of manpower for the employers who have hired foreign workers
  • Must be insured for either departure guarantee insurance or departure guarantee lump-sum payment, and guarantee insurance
• When paying lump-sum payment of departure guarantee insurance, if the amount is less than that of severance pay, the difference is paid to the foreign worker.
• When re-employing an employee, who has been employed in accordance with 「Act on Foreign Workers’ Employment, etc.」 and the 3 years of work authorization has expired, the restriction period of re-employment was reduced: 6 months → 1 month
• Added projects to support the operation of departure guarantee insurance, return cost insurance, and guarantee insurance/casualty insurance to the projects related to foreign workers by Minister of Labor

July 27, 2005

• The industrial trainee system was repealed and was integrated into Employment Permit System (EPS) for foreign workers from January 1, 2007
• Previous D-3 for industrial trainee (those who are employed are E-8) is considered a foreign worker (E-9) under Employment Permit System (EPS) for foreign workers starting Jan. 1, 2007
• Replacement workers are supplied (Dec. 31, 2005, for re-employment Apr. 30, 2006) regarding employers who made foreign workers (who were legalized in 2003) leave the country voluntarily

July 5, 2005

May 31, 2005

• Re-employment restriction period is reduced: 1 year → 6 months
• When re-employing an employee, who has been employed in accordance with 「Act on Foreign Workers’ Employment, etc.」 and the 3 years of work authorization has expired, the restriction period of re-employment was reduced (decided in the Enforcement Decree): 6 months → 1 month

May 11, 2005

• The agreement by the relevant departments to repeal the existing industrial trainee system and integrate into Employment Permit System (EPS) for foreign workers

March 12, 2005

• Prepared a legal basis to reduce the period for efforts to hire native workers (1 month → 3 days or 7 days, etc.)

March 2, 2005

• Finalized foreign workers introduction plan for 2005
  • Additional introduction of foreign workers and to minimize manpower vacuum, introduce as many as the actual number of workers leaving the country (39,000 + α)
  • Reserve manpower for replacement of industrial trainee was adjusted (33,000 workers → 40,000 workers)
  • In addition to the newly introduced types of business in 2004, Refrigerated Warehousing (general EPS), and maintenance and repair services of motor vehicles (foreign workers subject to exceptionally permissible employment) were added.
  • Expanded permitted number of foreign worker employment for workplaces with 4 workers or less (2 workers → 5 workers)

December 31, 2004

• The subjects for consultation with origin countries have become more specific.
  • The government organization in charge of labor administration, or if there is no government organization in charge of labor administration, then the department having the closest function

December 23, 2004

• Provided systematic counseling on difficulties, and life adjustment service to foreign workers
• Operated private/governmental cooperative project type (delegated to ‘Jiguchon Sarang Nanum’ corporation, established network with more than 150 foreigner supporting groups)
  • Counseling on difficulties using the foreign workers’ languages, and education on Korean language, computers, everyday life, and laws

August 31, 2004

August 17, 2004

• To the deliberation and resolution matter by foreign workforce policy committee, Article 24-3, Paragraph 1, each subparagraph of the Enforcement Decree of the 「Immigration Control Act」 was added.
  • Issues regarding recruitment and management of industrial trainee, which is under deliberation by foreign industrial worker policy deliberation committee

March 25, 2004

• Finalized and announced foreign workers supply plan for 2004
  • Total of 79,000 workers (25,000 Employment Permit System, 16,000 Employment Management System, 38,000 Industrial Trainee System)

March 17, 2004 ~ April 30

September 1, 2003 ~November 30

As of March 31, 2003, implemented to legalize the illegal immigrants residing in Korea for less than 4 years (227,000 people) (Article 2 of supplementary provision) ※ 184,199 people (80.9% of the subjects) have been issued an Employment Verification Document or Visa Issuance Confirmation

August 16, 2003

July 31, 2003

July 15, 2003

July 2, 2003

March 29, 2003

December 6, 2002

December, 2002

November 13, 2002

July 18, 2002

• Total number management system for trainees and employees was introduced (Aug. 29, 2002 Trainees 845,000 → Total number 1,455,000)

April 18, 2002

July 25, 2000

April 1, 2000

November,1993

November, 1991