Sojourn period extended for seasonal work scheme

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon speaks at a press briefing held at the central government complex in Seoul on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

The Korean government announced Tuesday it would extend the duration of stay for foreigners entering the country under the seasonal worker scheme.

The program, introduced in 2015, allows local governments to invite people from overseas to legally work in farming and fishing villages.

The current sojourn period of five months will be extended to as long as eight months, according to the Justice Ministry and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

“The ministry will swiftly amend the laws to permit extending the period of stay for a [additional] three-month period,” Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon said during a press briefing on Tuesday.

Han added individuals who are already in the country will also be eligible for the extension.

The ministry is also considering offering benefits to foreigners who came under the specific scheme five or more times when they apply for long-term visas.

The measure has helped resolve local labor shortages caused by the declining and aging population in the countryside. However, local authorities and the Agriculture Ministry have argued that the five-month period is too short.

Some 24,418 foreigners were invited to work in the agriculture sector in the first half of the year. An additional 10,196 workers were invited in the second half of the year, up 105 percent compared to the total number of seasonal workers that came to the country last year.

The extension of the period will be accompanied by a stricter crackdown on illegal brokers related to the seasonal worker scheme, the Justice Ministry said.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]