On September 25th, the second half of 2023 Skilled Worker (E-7-4) selection plan was announced under the name K-POINT E74. The application period is from September 25, 2023, to December 20, 2023, and continuous applications are possible until the quota is closed.
30,000 people are expected to be selected, and while it's true that the process has been simplified and considerably relaxed, Korean language proficiency has become a requirement, not an option. Therefore, it doesn't seem easy for foreign workers who didn't have a Korean score to suddenly create one and apply within a short period.
Although it is possible to apply with 200 points or more out of a total of 300 points, considering the dramatically increased selection number, in reality, it is judged that there is not much difficulty in selection if it is over 200 points.
Let's take a look at each requirement one by one.
Applicant (foreign worker) requirements
1. Basic requirements (mandatory): Meet all the following conditions (①~④)
① Foreigners (E9, E10, H2) who have stayed for more than 4 years in the last 10 years and are currently working normally at their current workplace
- Legally working with foreign registration at the current workplace at the time of application ② More than 26million KRW of annual salary at the current workplace and an E-7-4 employment contract for more than 2 years in the future - If the qualification changes to E-7-4, there should be an employment contract to continue working at the workplace at the time of application for more than 2 years - If the qualification changes to E-7-4, there should be an employment contract that the expected annual salary to be paid is more than 26 million KRW ※ However, for agriculture and livestock industry, fisheries, and domestic shipping workers, the salary requirement is relaxed to more than 25 million KRW ③ Those who have been recommended by a company where they have been working for more than 1 year - The representative of the company where the foreigner has been working for more than 1 year recommends, and the recommendation of the employing company is a mandatory requirement for E74 change and an additional point item - Recommendations are possible within 20% of the number of regular workers (a business place with 10 regular workers can recommend up to 2) ※ Regular workers refer to Koreans and foreign workers who have the right to work and have been registered for more than 3 months in the employment insurance subscriber list, meeting the minimum wage
※ In % calculation, fractions are rounded up ※ Companies currently employing E-9 and E-10 foreign workers can recommend at least 1 person
※ However, if wage non-payment, assault, or other human rights violations occur or foreign workers are illegally employed after implementation, the company will immediately lose its recommendation right and be prohibited from recommending for the next 5 years ④ Those with 200 points or more, including additional points, out of a total score of 300 points in the point system
※ The average income and Korean proficiency in the score table below must each be at least the minimum score (50 points) to apply - The average annual income for the last 2 years is more than 25 million KRW
- Korean proficiency is TOPIK level 2 or completion of the Social Integration Program level 2 or assignment of level 3 (41 points) or higher in the Social Integration Program pre-assessment ※ However, if it is impossible to prove income for the last 2 years due to re-entry gaps, etc., it can be replaced with the income amount of the 2 highest years from 2018 to 2022
※ The sum of the income for the last 2 years divided by 2, and for those engaged in agriculture and livestock or fisheries and domestic shipping, it is relaxed to more than 24 million KRW
2. Additional point items (sum of each item possible)
① Recommendation
- Recommendations are divided into central government, metropolitan area local government, and employing company recommendations. Employing company recommendation is a basic requirement (mandatory), and central government recommendation and metropolitan area local government recommendation are optional items, and if they overlap, only one is recognized
※ Metropolitan area local government: Limited to 7 metropolitan area local governments, and basic local governments recommend through metropolitan area local governments ② Current Workplace Tenure
- Only applicable to those who have been continuously working at the current workplace for more than 3 years as of the E-7-4 application date. ③ Work Experience in Population Decline Areas, etc.
- Refers to a legitimate and regular work experience of more than 3 years in areas of population decline or in towns and rural areas within the past 10 years in Korea, combining any of the three residency qualifications (E-9, E-10, H-2). ④ Possession of a Certificate
- Applicable if possessing at least one domestic certificate among Engineer, Industrial Engineer, or Technician.
※ Must be related to the field currently working in as of the application date.
⑤ Degree from a Domestic University
- Applicable if possessing a degree of at least an associate degree from a domestic university.
⑥ Domestic Driver's License
- Only recognizing a Class 2 regular license or above issued by the domestic police agency.
3. Deduction Items (Up to 50 points, only incidents within 10 years from the application date are applicable)
① Fine of less than 1 million KRW: Up to 20 points deduction applied depending on the number of times a fine of less than 1 million KRW has been received.
② Having been restricted in residency permit due to tax arrears: Up to 15 points deduction applied depending on the number of times residency permit has been restricted due to tax arrears.
③ Having received administrative action as a violator of the Immigration Control Act 3 times or less: Up to 15 points deduction applied depending on the number of times penalized for violating the Immigration Control Act.
4. Exclusion Targets for Application (Inapplicable for application if any of the below applies, only incidents within the recent 10 years are applicable)
① Those who have received a fine of 1 million KRW or more.
② Tax delinquents (can apply upon payment completion).
③ Violators of the Immigration Control Act 4 times or more.
④ Those with a history of illegal stay.
⑤ Those deemed likely to harm the interests of the Republic of Korea or public safety, etc.
⑥ Those deemed likely to harm economic order or social order, or good morals, etc.
Employing Company (Workplace) Requirements
1. Basic Requirements
- Existing skilled function point system applied workplaces that are currently employing at least one foreign worker (E-9, E-10, H-2).
2. Allowed Employment Quota (Within 30% of the current domestic employment personnel at the workplace)
- Population decline areas, root industries: within 50% of domestic employment personnel. - Qualifications other than E-7-4 (E-7, E-9, E-10, H-2, F-2, F-4, F-5, F-6) are excluded from foreign employment personnel. ※ Rounding up for % calculation.
※ Workplaces currently employing E-9 and E-10 foreign workers can employ at least one person (at least two for population decline areas and root industries). ※ For the construction industry: employable within 0.1 times the annual average construction amount (employable 0.1 person per 100 million KRW, rounding up).
3. Excluded Companies for Application
- Companies with a history of tax (national tax, local tax) delinquency are excluded.
K-POINT E74 Skilled Function Personnel (E-7-4) Score Table
<Basic Items>
Ⓐ Average Income (Average Annual Income for the Recent 2 Years): Up to 120 points
25 million KRW or more | 35 million KRW or more | 50 million KRW or more |
50 | 80 | 120 |
※ For agriculture and fisheries, fishing, and domestic shipping workers, the annual salary is 24 million KRW or more.
Ⓑ Korean Language Proficiency: Up to 120 points
Level 2, Stage 2, 41~60 points | Level 3, Stage 3, 61~80 points | Level 4, Stage 4, 81 points or more |
50 | 80 | 120 |
※ TOPIK (Level 2, 3, 4 or higher), Completion of Social Integration Program (Stage 2, 3, 4 or higher), Pre-evaluation score of Social Integration Program (41~60 points, 61~80 points, 81 points or higher)
Ⓒ Age: Up to 60 points
19~26 years old | 27~33 years old | 34~40 years old | 41 years old or older |
40 | 60 | 30 | 10 |
<Additional Points>
<Deductions>
Deduction Items | 1 time | 2 times | 3 times (or more) |
① Those who received a fine of less than 1 million KRW (up to 20 points) | 5 | 10 | 20 |
② Those who have been restricted in residency permit due to arrears (up to 15 points) | 5 | 10 | 15 |
③ Those who received administrative action as a violator of the Immigration Control Act 3 times or less (including fines, up to 15 points) | 5 | 10 | 15 |
Submission Documents
< Mandatory Documents: All applicants must submit >
1. (Foreigner themselves) Integrated Application Form, Passport Copy
2. (Foreigner themselves) Self-assessment Score Sheet
3. (Foreigner themselves) Personal Statement
4. (Foreigner themselves) Standard Employment Contract ※ Submit E-7-4 contract
5. (Foreigner themselves) Income Amount Certificate issued by the tax office (for verifying the average income over the last 2 years)
6. (Foreigner themselves) Korean Language Proficiency Test (TOPIK) Score Sheet
※ Submit the score sheet only if proving Korean proficiency through TOPIK; omit submission of completion certificate or pre-assessment score sheet if using the Social Integration Program completion or pre-assessment score.
7. (Foreigner themselves) Identity Guarantee ※ Employer as the guarantor
8. (Current Workplace) Copy of Business Registration Certificate or Agricultural Management Entity Registration (National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service)
9. ((Current Workplace) Tax Payment Certificate, Local Tax Payment Certificate (to check the company's tax delinquency status)
10. (Current Workplace) Employment Insurance Subscriber List (4 major insurance subscriber list) or Agricultural Management Entity Registration (National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service), Construction Amount Verification Document (only for construction industry)
11. (Current Workplace) Recommendation Letter from Employing Company and Copy of Recommender's ID
< Additional Documents: Only relevant individuals submit >
1. (Foreigner themselves) Copy of Domestic Certificate (only those eligible for additional points submit)
2. (Foreigner themselves) Copy of Domestic Degree (only those eligible for additional points submit)
3. (Foreigner themselves) Copy of Domestic Driver's License (only those eligible for additional points submit)
4. (Current Workplace) Root Company Verification Document (only applicable to root companies)
5. (Current Workplace) Main Contractor Verification Document or Material Supplier Verification Document (only applicable to shipbuilding industry)
6. (Current Workplace) Domestic Passenger Transport Business License or Domestic Freight Transport Business Registration Certificate (only applicable to domestic regular transport business)