Tashkent and Gyeongsangbuk-do Agree on Joint Education Programs and Direct Employment of Uzbek Specialists

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A delegation led by Behzod Musayev, Head of the Migration Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan, held a working meeting with Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.

Located in the northeast of the Republic of Korea and comprising 22 cities and counties, Gyeongsangbuk-do is one of the country’s key industrial and economic hubs, with major sectors including machinery, electronics, shipbuilding, agriculture, and tourism.

During the talks, the parties agreed to jointly train qualified specialists in Uzbekistan, followed by their employment at enterprises in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province under the E-7 visa program for skilled professionals. The “E-7 Pilot Program,” implemented by the provincial government, is designed to attract foreign workers, including Uzbeks, to leading industrial companies in the region.

The meeting also outlined simplified procedures for obtaining the E-7 visa for graduates of Korean and Uzbek universities in fields such as semiconductors, food industry, textiles, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, robotics, next-generation mobile technologies, and energy.

Candidates must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree and have at least one year of professional experience; or possess a diploma plus a TOPIK 2 or KIIP certificate; or have a minimum of three years of official experience in the listed fields with a TOPIK 3 certificate; or be final-year bachelor’s or master’s students with a TOPIK 2 or KIIP certificate.

Additionally, both sides agreed to introduce specialized training courses for Uzbeks, establish a system of direct contracts with employers, and simplify the visa application process.

Following the talks, a trilateral agreement was signed between Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, the Migration Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan, and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan, formalizing cooperation on workforce training and subsequent employment in Korea.