Chungcheongnam-do Province this year plans to attract over 9,000 seasonal foreign workers. Shown are such laborers from Laos in May last year taking a course on crime prevention at Sun Moon University in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do. (Chungcheongnam-do Province)

By Aisylu Akhmetzianova

The central and local governments are seeking to attract foreign workers to the provinces.

Chungcheongnam-do Province on March 17 said its goal this year is to bring in over 9,000 foreign seasonal workers in response to the decline and aging of the region's population.

The province will seek to attract this month a record-high 521 such laborers from Laos to ensure smooth supply and demand of agricultural workers.

To attract foreign seasonal workers and stimulate a system for them, Chungcheongnam-do has 14 public centers for agricultural personnel recruitment and supports better work environments for such human resources in 14 cities and counties.

Such workers will receive assistance when they arrive at the airport, receive education on basic daily laws, manners, crime prevention and employment compliance, aid in language communication and Korean cultural experiences.

In addition, the city of Iksan, Jeonbuk State (Jeollabuk-do Province), on March 14 announced its recruiting of foreign workers seeking to change their visa to the E-7-4R (region-specific skilled worker).

Those eligible must be registered expats who have lived in the country for at least two years over the past 10 years on either the E-9 (non-professional employee) or H-2 (work and visit) visa. Other criteria include being at their workplace for at least a year, earning an annual income of a minimum KRW 26 million and signing a labor contract of over two years.

Such workers can apply for the E-7-4R with a recommendation from their employer.

Expats who change their visas must live for at least three years in a population-declining area or one at risk of depopulation within the province; they can live with direct relatives such as spouses.

Visa changers can also receive a subsidy of KRW 300,000 if they live in Iksan for at least three months.

aisylu@korea.kr