Uzbekistan and South Korea’s Gyeongsangnam-do Province Sign Labor Migration Agreement

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The authorities of South Korea’s Gyeongsangnam-do Province and Uzbekistan have signed a cooperation agreement on labor migration, the Migration Agency reported.

The document provides for the issuance of E-7 work visas for skilled professionals, enabling young Uzbek citizens with vocational education to gain employment and enhance their qualifications at major industrial enterprises in the province.

Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Park Wan-su emphasized that the agreement was the “first-ever document on the admission of foreign labor in the province’s history” and praised the strong training of Uzbek youth.

The parties also discussed the possible resumption of E-8 visas for seasonal agricultural workers and agreed to develop joint projects in this field.

According to Dunyo agency, Tashkent and Seoul are negotiating a broader migration partnership agreement. This issue was central during the meeting between Uzbekistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Olimjon Abdullaev and his South Korean counterpart Jun Ki-hong. The Korean Foreign Ministry expressed readiness to support cooperation not only in labor migration but also in cultural, humanitarian, and economic areas.

The talks also covered support for the Korean diaspora in Uzbekistan and Uzbek citizens residing in South Korea.

Earlier, in April, Abdullaev discussed with South Korean Ambassador Won Do-yeon ways to simplify visa procedures, including seasonal visas. The agenda also included training specialists, implementing joint educational programs, and additional pre-departure training.

In May, Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-gyeom announced that the authorities had obtained the right to issue E-7 visas to Uzbek specialists and their families. The first candidates for employment at Hyundai Heavy Industries were 105 graduates of a joint vocational training center in Fergana.

In July, during a meeting with the governor of Fergana region, Kim Doo-gyeom outlined plans to ease the visa regime for Uzbek students who had previously studied in Korea. Uzbekistan, in turn, expressed its intention to expand cooperation in training personnel for the shipbuilding sector.