Jeonbuk State announced on the 5th that it has secured a total quota of 480 people under the 'Skilled Professional Visa (E-7-4/R) Regional Government Recommendation System,' which was implemented to resolve the workforce shortages faced by industries, including manufacturing.

 

The state quickly achieved its existing quota of 433 people (an initial 160 plus an additional 273 in the first round), and by securing an extra 47 people allocated in the second additional quota round, it has obtained a total of 480 skilled foreign workers.

 

The analysis shows that the early completion of recruitment was mainly driven by the introduction of the 'Region-Specific Skilled Professional (E-7-4R)' visa. Unlike the previous Region-Specific Excellent Talent (F-2-R) visa, the target area was expanded to 11 cities and counties (excluding Jeonju, Gunsan, and Wanju), including Iksan, which is designated as an area of interest due to population decline. Furthermore, the residency period requirement was eased from three years to two years. Above all, the regional-based visa, which allows for the spouse's employment, drew significant interest from many foreign workers.

 

The Region-Specific Skilled Professional (E-7-4R) visa can be switched by existing unskilled foreign workers (such as E-9, etc.) through recommendation from the provincial governor, and it allows for continuous stay during the contract period with the employer.

 

The Korean language proficiency requirement has been temporarily suspended until December 31, 2026, introducing a system where workers can convert their visa first and then acquire the necessary Korean language skills. As the conversion process is easier for foreign workers, the state plans to leverage these institutional advantages and continue additional recruitment efforts until the end of the year.