South Korea (see also Bangladesh, Cambodia, Philippines)

2008 Foreign Workforce Import Plan

The Ministry of Labor has announced the 2008 Foreign Workforce Import Plan, which will bring in about 132,000 workers to replace departing workers whose labor contracts have ended.  The plan also aims to address labor shortages in several companies.  The number is higher by 23,000 compared to last year.  Of the total, 60,000 ethnic Koreans living overseas will be brought in as well as 72,000 foreigners from different countries.  The announcement did not mention the number of workers that will be received from each sending country.

E-2 visa rules hampering English teacher recruitment

Stricter E-2 visa rules are making the recruitment of English teachers more difficult, according to education officials from major cities and provinces. The E-2 visa regulations began on 15 December, in a move to address concerns on the credibility of foreign English teachers. Officials say government efforts to improve public English education have made hiring native-speaking teachers difficult.  English teachers eligible for the E-2 visas are citizens from English-speaking countries and those who possess a bachelor’s degree.  They are also required to undergo criminal background checks and health exams, including HIV-AIDS and drug testing.  The government recently eased the rules by canceling tests for marijuana use.  Chief education officials also called on the government to strengthen the National Institute for International Education Development to systematically recruit and manage foreign teachers.

Stricter visa rules for Chinese students

South Korea will impose stricter visa rules for Chinese students and will deport any Chinese nationals found attacking protesters during the Beijing Olympics.  The announcement came after the recent Olympic torch relay on 27 April, where almost 10,000 Chinese supporters, mostly college students, attacked demonstrators protesting against China’s repatriation of North Korean refugees and its crackdown on Tibetans.  Reports say they threw water bottles, stones and pieces of wood at the protestors, many of whom were injured. Riot police, media persons and other Korean activists also incurred minor injuries during the clash.  Police are investigating the students involved, while civic groups have called on the government for immediate action on the incident.

Sources: Song Sang-ho, “Backlash on stronger E-2 visa rules,” The Korea Herald, 4 April 2008; Dondave Jabay, “Labor ministry in Korea announces 2008 foreign workforce import plan,” ABS-CBN News, 24 April 2008; Kim Tae-jong, “Seoul to tighten visa rules for Chinese students,” Korea Times, 30 April 2008