This is the Friday morning briefing. From yesterday’s announcements, I have selected two items that will directly impact workplaces employing foreign workers and exporting companies.
Today’s Key Highlights
- Ministry of Justice to simplify E-7-4 (Skilled Worker) stay extension documents from over 12 types to 7 or fewer.
- HiKorea to pilot a “Work Visa Guide” (Job search, eligibility diagnosis, score calculator, document checklist).
- Amended Act on Responding to Changes in Trade Environment to take effect on Thursday, October 22; companies damaged by foreign trade measures to be eligible for loans, consulting, and market development support.
1. Simplification of E-7-4 (Skilled Worker) Stay Extension Documents and Expansion of Long-term Employment Bonus Points
- What is changing: On October 22, the Ministry of Justice announced improvements to the system where foreign workers who entered on E-9 (Non-professional Employment), E-10 (Shipboard Employment), etc., can switch to E-7-4 for long-term stay. The number of documents required when applying for a stay extension will be reduced from the current 12 or more types to 7 or fewer. A “Work Visa Guide” will be piloted on HiKorea to provide: checking eligibility requirements, wage standards, and necessary documents by occupation; searching for applicable occupations based on education, experience, and annual salary; E-7-4 score calculation and checking if the passing score is met; and a document checklist by application type. Plans include increasing bonus points for long-term employment at the same company, easing the required stay period for subsequent conversion to F-2 (Residency), and establishing a roadmap from E-9/E-10 → E-7-4 → F-2 → F-5 (Permanent Residency) through public notice.
- Who it is for: Foreign workers preparing to switch to E-7-4 while working on E-9, E-10, etc.; employers who have hired them; and foreigners currently staying on E-7-4 (52,648 people as of September 2026).
- From when: This is currently in the announcement stage; the start date for the guide, the application date for simplified documents, the extent of the bonus point expansion, and the timing of the public notice are not specified in the press release (⚠️ Original text verification required).
- Administrative Agent’s Note: If your extension deadline arrives before the document simplification is applied, you must prepare based on the current standards. Since long-term employment bonus points are based on the period of continuous employment at the same company, workers preparing for a conversion should check their continuous employment period before making any plans to change workplaces.
- Source: Policy Briefing · Ministry of Justice Press Release: Plan to Improve the Skilled Worker (E-7-4) System
2. Implementation of the Amended Act on Responding to Changes in Trade Environment; Companies Damaged by Foreign Tariffs and Export Controls to be Eligible for Support
- What is changing: The Ministry of Trade and Industry announced that the amended “Act on Responding to Changes in the Trade Environment and Support, etc.” took effect on October 22. Previously, support was only provided to companies that suffered or were at risk of suffering damage due to the implementation of trade treaties signed by the Korean government. Moving forward, companies that suffer or are at risk of suffering damage due to trade or commercial measures taken by other countries in accordance with their own domestic laws (Article 2, Subparagraph 1-2) will also be eligible for support. The accompanying public notice defines the scope of foreign trade measures as: universal/reciprocal tariffs and item-specific additional tariffs (excluding anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties, and safeguards), export controls on strategic and dual-use items, ESG trade regulations such as carbon emission levies and supply chain due diligence, and discriminatory financial/tax support for strategic industries. In addition to existing financial loans and consulting, a legal basis for supporting market development (Article 8) has been established.
- Who it is for: Exporting and manufacturing companies facing revenue decreases or potential damage due to foreign tariffs, export controls, or ESG regulations.
- From when: Effective from Thursday, October 22, 2026; inquiries regarding support applications are available through the Trade Change Response Support Center (Korea SMEs and Startups Agency).
- Administrative Agent’s Note: As the press release does not specify the criteria for designating supported companies or the required application documents, it is necessary to check the Center’s official announcements. Preparing a summary of the specific measures taken by the relevant country, their implementation dates, and the details of export/revenue decreases by client will speed up your application preparation.
- Source: Policy Briefing · Ministry of Trade and Industry Press Release: Expanding Support to Include Damage Caused by Foreign Trade Measures
Deadlines to Watch This Week
- October 26 (Mon): Deadline for opinions on the re-legislation notice of the Enforcement Decree of the Building Act (Briefing on Oct 19)
- October 26 (Mon) – October 30 (Fri): Issuance of the 4th round of E-9 Employment Permits for Agriculture/Livestock/Fisheries/Forestry, Construction, and Service industries (Briefing on Oct 19)
- October 27 (Tue): Expected promulgation of the Enforcement Decree of the Private Rental Housing Act (Briefing on Oct 21)
- October 30 (Fri): Deadline for applications for the pilot project of the Emergency Patient Transport Business Quality Certification System (Briefing on Oct 21)
This briefing is a summary organized by the Hwang Yunsang Administrative Agent (Haengjeongsa) Office based on public data. For the application of specific individual cases, verification with the competent authorities is required.