Friday, April 25, 2025

South Korea Allows Foreign Exchange Students to Become Caregivers Due to Severe Shortage

Yonhap News

Amid a growing worker shortage in the caregiving sector, the South Korean government has decided to extend eligibility to international students to work as caregivers for older adults.

On Friday, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced an initiative to allow foreign students graduating from domestic universities to work in caregiving services, as well as separate visa policies to enable more ethnic Koreans to work in the fields.

The new policy aims to address the growing shortage of long-term caregivers in Korea, caused by the aging population and falling birth rates.

According to the Ministry of Justice, as of December 2023, the average age of caregivers was 61.7, with a shortfall of about 79,000 caregivers expected by 2027.

The Ministry of Justice plans to introduce a new “caregiving” job category under the E-7 (Foreign National of Special Ability) visa, which permits employment in 88 occupations designated by the justice minister.

Under the plan, foreign students, who have graduated from domestic universities and acquired caregiver qualifications, will be allowed to obtain an E-7 visa, after securing jobs in nursing facilities. The government has devised a pilot program, allowing up to 400 international students annually to obtain two-year visas to work as caregivers.

Ethnic Koreans from abroad with H-2 visas who obtain caregiver qualifications will be allowed to switch to F-4 visas, for extended stays. The plan aims to encourage ethnic Koreans currently working as caregivers to work on a long-term basis, while also opening doors for more ethnic Koreans to enter the field.

Starting in July, foreign exchange students who are currently enrolled at domestic universities will also be allowed to acquire caregiver qualifications. Only foreign exchange students who have graduated from domestic universities are allowed to acquire caregiver qualifications since the revision of the related domestic law in January. However, with the new policy, the eligibility will be expanded to also include international students currently enrolled at universities.

The government aims to actively improve the working conditions of caregivers in Korea. The measures include expanding the promotion system for caregivers, improving the caregiver placement standards in elderly care facilities to reduce workload, and more.

“Together with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, we have prepared measures to improve the treatment of nationals while introducing excellent foreign talents to the elderly care sector to respond to the super-aged society,” said Justice Minister Park Sung Jae.

Hot this week

AI Politeness Has a Cost: Saying ‘Thank You’ to AI Adds to Energy and Water Consumption

Users thanking AI may lead to increased energy consumption, as polite interactions raise server loads and electricity costs significantly.

Dow Soars Over 1,000 Points as U.S.-China Trade Hopes Lift Markets

U.S. stock indices surged over 2.5% as optimism grew for a U.S.-China trade deal, while Tesla faced mixed reactions post-earnings.

Oil Snaps Back: U.S. Sanctions on Iran Fuel Fresh Price Surge

Oil prices surged after U.S. sanctions on Iran, despite previous declines due to market sentiment influenced by Trump’s criticism of the Fed.

Conclave Set to Begin as Vatican Mourns Pope Francis; Korean Cardinal Among Electors

Pope Francis's funeral is set to be modest, with a conclave to elect his successor commencing next month. Cardinal You will participate.

Trump-Powell Fallout Roils Markets: Dow Plunges 972 Points, Tesla Drops Nearly 6%

The NYSE faced a major sell-off as doubts about the Fed's independence led to sharp declines in major tech stocks and the dollar.

Topics

AI Politeness Has a Cost: Saying ‘Thank You’ to AI Adds to Energy and Water Consumption

Users thanking AI may lead to increased energy consumption, as polite interactions raise server loads and electricity costs significantly.

Dow Soars Over 1,000 Points as U.S.-China Trade Hopes Lift Markets

U.S. stock indices surged over 2.5% as optimism grew for a U.S.-China trade deal, while Tesla faced mixed reactions post-earnings.

Oil Snaps Back: U.S. Sanctions on Iran Fuel Fresh Price Surge

Oil prices surged after U.S. sanctions on Iran, despite previous declines due to market sentiment influenced by Trump’s criticism of the Fed.

Conclave Set to Begin as Vatican Mourns Pope Francis; Korean Cardinal Among Electors

Pope Francis's funeral is set to be modest, with a conclave to elect his successor commencing next month. Cardinal You will participate.

Trump-Powell Fallout Roils Markets: Dow Plunges 972 Points, Tesla Drops Nearly 6%

The NYSE faced a major sell-off as doubts about the Fed's independence led to sharp declines in major tech stocks and the dollar.

Crude Slips After Trump Criticism of Fed Sparks Market Turmoil

Oil prices plummet as Trump's criticism of Fed Chair Powell triggers market turmoil; gold hits record high amid safe-haven demand.

Delta Sets the Bar: Only Airline on Fortune’s Best Workplaces List

Delta Air Lines ranks 15th in Fortune's '100 Best Companies to Work For', marking six consecutive years on the list, CEO Ed Bastian says.

Snap, Save, Sustain: Samsung’s ‘Ocean Mode’ Contributes to Planting Over 11,000+ Corals

Samsung's Coral in Focus project uses Galaxy tech for coral restoration, achieving significant marine ecosystem improvements in one year.

Related Articles