{
  "id": 19585219,
  "title": "Korea opens final 2026 round of foreign worker permits",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/korea-opens-final-2026-round-of-foreign-worker-permits",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-12T02:12:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/20261112/korea-opens-final-2026-round-of-foreign-worker-permits"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Korea initiated its concluding 2026 cycle for foreign worker visas on November 23, granting 6,699 new permits to assist businesses grappling with labor shortages. The Ministry of Employment and Labor disclosed this on Thursday. The five-day application period concludes on November 27 and encompasses nonprofessional employment visas, or E-9, across five primary industries. Manufacturing dominates the quota, with 4,510 slots, followed by agriculture and livestock (954), fisheries (897), construction (198), and services (140). In the event of employer demand surpassing sector quotas, officials revealed they will utilize a flexible reserve pool of 10,000 supplementary permits. The declaration highlights Korea's increasing dependence on foreign labor to sustain its export-oriented factories, farms, and fishing industries amid one of the world's most rapidly aging populations and lowest birthrates. Recently, the government has incrementally expanded its Employment Permit System.",
  "summary": "Korea will accept its final round of applications this year for foreign worker visas starting Nov. 23, offering 6,699 new permits to help businesses ease persistent labor shortages while introducing incentives for employers who complete human rights and labor law training, the Ministry of Employment and Labor said Thursday. The five-day application window, running through Nov. 27, covers…",
  "key_points": [
    "Korea's final 2026 foreign worker visa round begins Nov 23",
    "6,699 new E-9 permits granted for labor shortages",
    "Manufacturing receives 4,510 visas, followed by agriculture"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Expanding the employment permit system through these final quotas signals a deepening reliance on international labor to sustain essential industries facing critical shortages from a shrinking domestic workforce.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}