Korea Visa & Permit Insights

Korea’s 2030 Immigration Reform, Part 2 — E-7-M / K-CORE Visa, a New Work Route for International Junior College Graduates

The E-7-M, also called the K-CORE visa, is a new mid-skilled employment route designed for international students who graduate from designated manufacturing-related departments at Korean junior colleges. It connects Korean-trained technical talent to regional manufacturing companies and may later lead to F-2 residence eligibility.

8/22/2026

Korea’s 2030 Immigration Reform, Part 1 — What Happens When 39 Work Visa Categories Become 3 Levels?

On March 3, 2026, Korea’s Ministry of Justice announced the “2030 Immigration Policy Future Strategy,” including a major plan to reorganize Korea’s complex work visa system into three levels: high-skilled, mid-skilled, and low-skilled. This article explains what E-series, D-series, and F-series visa holders, as well as employers hiring foreign workers, should review during the transition period.