South Korea May Permit Restaurants To Employ Foreigners

Seoul – The South Korean government is considering expanding the types of restaurants eligible to hire foreign workers with non-professional E-9 visas beyond those serving Korean cuisine, citing a growing labor shortage in the industry.

The Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs confirmed the move in response to the increasing workforce deficit in the sector. This initiative follows an earlier decision by the ministry to allow Korean restaurants to employ migrant workers, and now proprietors of non-Korean eateries are advocating for a broader application of this policy to include all restaurant types.

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As part of this effort, the ministry has launched a research project aimed at enhancing employment opportunities for E-9 visa holders in the hospitality sector, particularly in kitchen roles. The study aims to assess the initial outcomes of employing E-9 visa holders, evaluate labor shortages across different restaurant types, understand operators’ needs, and develop strategies to address staffing shortages.

The government has taken a gradual approach to implementing the new labor law, initially permitting only Korean food establishments to hire additional foreign workers. Out of approximately 800,000 registered restaurants in the country, Korean cuisine establishments make up 42%.

To address the labor crisis, the ministry has opened a second round of applications for Korean restaurants seeking foreign workers for kitchen operations. Eligible establishments must have a minimum operating history of five years and can apply for up to two foreign nationals if they have five or more employees, or one if they have fewer than five. The growing labor shortage poses concerns for policymakers, with reports suggesting a need to add 900,000 workers to the labor force by 2032 to sustain economic growth.