The North Jeolla Province in South Korea is set to become the third special autonomous province on Jan. 18, following Jeju and Gangwon.
Having been inaugurated as a special autonomous province, the North Jeolla Province has undergone changes to the special act, allowing for the transfer of certain central government powers. This transfer empowers the province to independently implement a variety of policies.
The establishment of the special province is anticipated to bring about significant transformations in the region. One notable change involves the management of residency qualifications for foreigners with increased flexibility. Currently, non-professional foreign workers holding an ‘E-9′ visa can work in Korea for a maximum of 4 years and 10 months (3 years plus 1 year and 10 months). Following this period, they are required to leave Korea and stay in their home country for 6 months before being eligible to re-enter.
Under the new special act, foreign workers can now be recognized as skilled workers and upgrade to an ‘E-7-4′ or ‘F-2′ visa without the necessity of leaving Korea and returning to their home country. The ‘E-7′ and ‘F-2′ visas are currently granted to foreigners with specialized expertise, requiring stringent conditions such as residing in Korea for over 4 years.
An official from the North Jeolla Government has disclosed that, with the amendment, the Saemangeum area will be designated as an employment special zone. This move is expected to prolong the stay of foreign workers and assist small and medium-sized enterprises in addressing the chronic manpower shortages they currently face.
