Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea signed a cooperation agreement on E-7 skilled work visas, the Migration Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers said today.
The deal was signed with Gyeongsangnam-do Province and opens up opportunities for young professionals from Uzbekistan to work in the province's major industrial sectors on a province’s visa, "boosting their knowledge and professional experience."
Provincial Governor Park Wan-su noted that the agreement marks the first time in the province's history that a document has been signed regarding the admission of foreign labor.
"We focus on language skills of foreign workers. We highly value the training and education system of Uzbek youth," the agency quoted him as saying.
The parties also discussed E-8 visas, designated for seasonal workers in agriculture and fisheries. The parties agreed to launch joint projects in this area in the future.
In April, the Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan and South Korea discussed cooperation in labor migration and visa facilitation for Uzbeks.
In March, Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-gyeom told the Deputy Foreign Minister that South Korea was introducing a pilot mechanism for simplified work visa processing for Uzbek citizens, directly through the city administration. Citizens who complete three-month vocational training and Korean language courses will be able to obtain a work visa and find jobs.
South Korea invited 100,000 Uzbeks to participate in a contest for E-9 visa vacancies in 2024.
