Today, I will post about the issuance of a recommendation letter from the Minister of Health and Welfare, which is essential for hiring foreign employees (for E-7 visa application) in the two job categories of Medical Coordinator and Product Planner among the E-7 visa types that I am currently in the process of. These categories are particularly relevant for hospitals and institutions engaged in attracting foreign patients.
In the case of hospitals and institutions attracting foreign patients, when there is an attempt to circumvent the requirement for hiring a Medical Coordinator due to reasons such as the lack of qualifications, individuals may try to take alternative routes by applying for roles such as Translator, Product Developer, Overseas Sales, or Marketing. However, in cases where the institution aims to engage in overseas medical tourism and attract foreign patients, it is necessary to obtain a recommendation from the Minister of Health and Welfare for the position of Product Planner (Code: 2731). This differentiation arises from the unique nature of the industries of travel and health, which share common attributes. Therefore, professionals in the medical tourism field are specifically evaluated as Product Planners (2731) or Medical Coordinators.
E-7 Medical Coordinator
❍ (Job Description) Individuals providing comprehensive services for foreign patients in hospitals, including guiding and assisting in attracting foreign patients for medical treatment, scheduling appointments, interpretation, and customer relations. ❍ (Example of Eligible Occupation) Medical Coordinator ❍ Applicable Criteria for National Employment Protection Examination (Separate criteria apply) - (Employer Criteria) Medical institutions and healthcare providers attracting foreign patients, registered under Article 6 of the Law on Overseas Medical Services and Attracting Foreign Patients. - (Permissible number of employees per institution)Up to 2 employees for medical institutions attracting patients, up to 1 employee for medical service attractors (However, if there have been over 1,000 foreign patients attracted in the past year, additional employment is permitted at a rate of 1 employee per 1,000 extra patients)
▸ Special Exception for Designated Attracting Institutions under Article 14 of the Medical Overseas Expansion Law: Up to 3 employees for designated attracting medical institutions, up to 2 employees for designated attractors (Additional employment permitted as specified above) - (Other Considerations) If there are no specific provisions for national employment protection, general standards apply for company size, employment ratio, minimum wage, etc. ❍ (Employment Recommendation Letter) Ministry of Health and Welfare (Overseas Medical Services Division) ※ Required
❍ (Qualification Requirements) Individuals who meet one or more of the following criteria ① Holders of qualifications such as doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or related degrees, or possess a bachelor's degree or higher in relevant fields. ② Graduates (or prospective graduates) of domestic universities with a bachelor's degree or higher, who have completed the International Medical Coordinator or Medical Interpretation professional courses designated under the Korean Health and Welfare Human Resources Development Act. ③ Holders of the 'International Medical Tourism Coordinator' certification specified in Annex 2 of the National Technical Qualification Act. ④ Holders of the 'Medical Interpretation Ability Test Certificate' under Article 13 of the Medical Overseas Expansion Law. ❍ (Required Documents) Copy of 'International Medical Tourism Coordinator' national technical qualification certificate (if applicable), copy of completion certificate for International Medical Coordinator course (if applicable), copy of Medical Interpretation professional course completion certificate (if applicable), copy of Medical Interpretation Ability Test Certificate (if applicable), copy of registration certificate for foreign patient-attracting institution, copy of identification certificate, and additional documents. ❍ (Visa Issuance) Single-entry visa with a maximum stay period of 2 years ❍ (Stay Management) General criteria apply
E7 Product Planner
❍ (Occupation Description)
Individuals who identify overseas consumer buying patterns, forecast demands, and plan marketable products. They establish strategies for effective production, sales, and promotion of products, and systematically collect and research information on the current sales levels and consumer evaluations of specific overseas products and services. They also survey and analyze current and future consumer preferences to formulate efficient sales strategies or provide advice.
❍ (Example of Eligible Occupation)
Overseas Product Planners (Product Development Specialists), Overseas Marketing Experts (Promotion Technique Specialists)
❍ (Employment Recommendation Letter)
For fields other than health and welfare industries: Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy (KOTRA)
For health and welfare industries: Ministry of Health and Welfare (Overseas Medical Services Division)
❍ (Qualification Requirements, Visa Issuance, and Stay Management) General criteria apply
※Note: In the case of Product Planners, the regulation for protecting local employees (allowing the employment of 1 foreign employee for every 5 local employees) does not apply. Therefore, as long as the necessity of employment is demonstrated, applications can be submitted regardless of the number of local employees. Approval is a separate matter.
Employment Recommendation Letter issuing Criteria for Foreign Medical Coordinators by the Ministry of Health and Welfare
Eligibility Criteria for the Applying Institution
○ Medical institutions and attractors registered under Article 6 of the Law on Overseas Medical Services and Attracting Foreign Patients, following the requirements of Article 6 and Rule 4 of the Enforcement Decree of the same law.
Qualification Requirements for Recommended Personnel
○ Holders of medical licenses such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, or individuals who have graduated from relevant departments (holders of associate degrees or higher).
○ Individuals who have graduated from domestic universities and hold a bachelor's degree or higher and have completed the International Medical Coordinator professional course or the Medical Interpretation professional course under the Korean Health and Welfare Human Resources Development Act.
○ 'International Medical Tourism Coordinator' certification specified in Annex 2 of the National Technical Qualification Act" or "Medical Interpretation Ability Test Certificate obtained according to Article 11 of the Enforcement Rules of the Law on Overseas Medical Services and Attracting Foreign Patients.
Employment Recommendation letter issuing Criteria for Foreign Product Planners by the Ministry of Health and Welfare
Eligibility Criteria for the Applying Institution
○ Medical institutions and attractors registered under Article 6 of the Law on Overseas Medical Services and Attracting Foreign Patients, following the requirements of Article 6 and Rule 4 of the Enforcement Decree of the same law.
Qualification Requirements for Recommended Personnel
○ Individuals with over 5 years of experience in the relevant field. ○ Individuals with a bachelor's degree or higher in the relevant field and over 1 year of experience in the relevant field. ○ Individuals with a master's degree or higher in the relevant field. ※ Individuals who meet special requirements set by the Minister of Justice will have separate educational and experiential criteria. ○ (For those graduating (or expected to graduate) from domestic universities with a bachelor's degree or higher) Graduates in relevant majors are exempt from experience requirements.
Those with over 3 months of experience in the relevant field are permitted regardless of their major.
* (Example) Relevant Majors: Business Administration, International Trade, Tourism, Commerce, Advertising, Public Relations, and related fields (Korean Literature, Linguistics, Korean Language, etc. are considered non-relevant fields) * (Example) Relevant Experience: Marketing, Product Development, etc.