A skills assessment conducted on-site to recruit foreign skilled workers. From July 25 to 27, South Gyeongsang Province evaluated local applicants in Thailand, focusing on two fields: painting and electrical work. The province also plans to carry out a similar skills assessment in Indonesia from August 1 to 3. (Photo courtesy of South Gyeongsang Provincial Government)
CHANGWON, South Korea, July 29 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s southeastern province of South Gyeongsang will begin hiring skilled foreign workers for its shipbuilding industry in the second half of this year, as part of a new government-backed visa pilot aimed at addressing a critical labor shortage in key technical roles.
On Monday, the provincial government announced the launch of the “regional visa” pilot program, specifically targeting the recruitment of foreign specialists in welding, painting, and electrical work—essential roles in the shipbuilding sector. The initiative follows the Ministry of Justice’s selection of South Gyeongsang in May as the designated site for the new visa scheme.
To qualify for the visa, foreign applicants must demonstrate certified expertise in one of the three designated trades. The province recently began its first round of skill assessments in Thailand, focusing on painting and electrical work, and will conduct similar evaluations in Indonesia from August 1 to 3.
Successful candidates will undergo further screening, including a Korean language test and document review. Those who pass will receive an F-7 visa, which allows them to work at local shipyards—most notably Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje facility—as industrial painters or electricians.
A skilled worker at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering’s headquarters in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
To support the new arrivals, the province will operate a dedicated visa assistance center offering employment services, language training, and administrative support.
South Gyeongsang, along with neighboring Ulsan, is a cornerstone of South Korea’s shipbuilding industry. However, years of industrial downturns led to an exodus of domestic workers. Now, as global demand surges and South Korea enters a new shipbuilding boom, labor shortages—especially in high-skill roles—have become increasingly acute.
While many foreign workers are already employed in the sector under E-9 visas for non-specialized labor, the province requested the Ministry of Justice to approve a pilot for the F-7 skilled worker visa to address the growing gap in technical manpower.
Officials hope the new initiative will not only ease labor shortages but also pave the way for more sustainable, skills-based foreign employment in one of the country’s most vital export industries.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)