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E9 working visa holders |
For the first time, the number of foreign workers in South Korea holding E-9 visas (non-professional employment visas) has surpassed 300,000, with a significant increase in workers earning over 3 million won per month. This data comes from the 2024 Survey on the Status of Immigrant Residence and Employment released by Statistics Korea on March 18.
Key Statistics 📊
- Total Foreign Residents: As of May 2023, there were 1.561 million foreign residents aged 15 and above in South Korea, including 303,000 E-9 visa holders.
- E-9 Visa Workers: These workers are employed in industries facing labor shortages, such as manufacturing, construction, agriculture, and fisheries.
Where Do E-9 Visa Holders Work? 🏭🌾
- Manufacturing and Mining: 80.5% of E-9 workers are employed in this sector.
- Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries: 14.4% work in these industries.
- Construction: 3.0% are employed in construction-related jobs.
Income Trends Among Foreign Workers 💵
- 51.2% of foreign workers earn between 2–3 million won per month.
- 37.1% earn over 3 million won per month, a figure that has doubled since 2020 (when it was 16.4%).
Income by Visa Type:
- E-9 Visa Holders: 70.8% earn 2–3 million won/month.
- Professional Workers: 50.5% earn 2–3 million won/month.
- Permanent Residents: 55.2% earn over 3 million won/month.
- Overseas Koreans: 46.1% earn over 3 million won/month.
Gender Differences in Immigration Purposes 👫
- Men: Primarily come to South Korea for work:
- 90.9% of E-9 visa holders.
- 71.8% of professional workers.
- 57.3% of family visitation visa holders.
- Women: Primarily come for marriage (79.6%) or studying (53.3%).
What Does This Mean? 🌟
The data highlights the growing number of foreign workers in South Korea and their improving income levels. The E-9 visa program plays a crucial role in addressing labor shortages in key industries, while also providing opportunities for foreign workers to earn competitive wages.
Learn Korean with This News Summary 🇰🇷📚
Here’s a quick Korean lesson based on the news summary:
“국내에서 비전문취업(E-9) 비자로 체류하는 외국인이 처음으로 30만명을 넘어섰다. 외국인 임금근로자가 늘면서 월급을 300만원 이상 받는 외국인이 10명 중 4명에 달했다.”
- 비전문취업 (Bijeonmun Chwieop): Non-professional employment
- 비자 (Bija): Visa
- 체류 (Cheryu): Stay/residence
- 임금근로자 (Imgeum Geunroja): Wage worker
- 월급 (Wolgeup): Monthly salary
- 10명 중 4명 (10 Myeong Jung 4 Myeong): 4 out of 10 people
For the first time, the number of foreigners staying in South Korea on non-professional employment (E-9) visas has exceeded 300,000. As the number of foreign wage workers increases, 4 out of 10 foreigners now earn over 3 million won per month.
Related article: More than 1 in 20 People in South Korea Are Foreign Nationals 🌍
Reference: naver news
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