KUALA LUMPUR - South Korea may face a shortage of about 110,000 elderly care workers by 2028, according to a government-funded research institute.

A report released on March 15 by the Korea Immigration Service Foundation said foreign caregivers should be integrated into the country’s long-term care system with labour protections equal to those of local workers.

The institute said broader social acceptance of foreign caregivers will also be necessary as the country grapples with rapid population ageing, as reported by The Korea Herald.

Government and research data cited in the report estimate that around 800,000 care workers will be required nationwide by 2028.

However, the available workforce is projected to reach only about 690,000, creating a shortfall of roughly 110,000 workers.

The report said the shortage reflects the ageing of the care workforce itself.

Government data shows that of the 657,104 people employed in the care sector in 2024, about 66 per cent were aged 60 or older.

Foreign caregivers remain a small minority within the sector.

As of 2024, only 6,644 foreign workers were employed as caregivers nationwide.

Researchers said addressing the shortage will require detailed planning of care services.

This includes assessing who requires care, the types of services needed and how they should be delivered in terms of working hours and employment arrangements.

The report warned that expanding foreign caregiver recruitment without careful planning could create an oversupply of labour.

Such a situation could potentially affect other segments of the labour market, the researchers said.

Authorities were therefore urged to design a comprehensive system including training infrastructure and workforce management.

The report also noted that restricting foreign caregivers to the E-7 visa category for skilled professionals may limit the country’s ability to attract workers.

“With relatively low wages and limited prospects for stable residency, foreign workers may have little incentive to choose Korea,” the report said.

Researchers instead recommended allowing workers holding the E-9 visa for non-professional employment to enter training programmes for caregiving.

They said these workers could later transition to the E-7 visa category after obtaining professional qualifications.

The report also proposed pairing foreign caregivers with South Korean workers in two-person teams during the early stages of employment.

Inactive certified caregivers could also be deployed alongside foreign workers to support the sector.

Researchers said this could create opportunities for older workers who may find it difficult to manage the physical demands of the role independently.

The institute also called on authorities to guarantee equal rights and fair treatment for both local and foreign care workers.

It also urged stronger oversight of private recruitment agencies involved in hiring foreign labour.

The report noted that current policies mainly focus on educating foreign caregivers about Korean culture.

However, broader multicultural awareness programmes are needed for caregivers, service users and employers to encourage respect for foreign workers and prevent workplace conflicts.