KUALA LUMPUR - South Korea has strengthened its screening process for E-9 visa applicants by placing greater emphasis on interviews and introducing more in-depth safety-related questions in skills tests for foreign workers seeking so-called “non-professional” employment.

The Human Resources Development Service Korea (HRDK), which operates under the Ministry of Employment and Labour, said the revisions are intended to select applicants with stronger Korean-language proficiency and better safety awareness, as reported by The Korea Herald.

Under the E-9 visa scheme, foreign nationals from 16 countries are allowed to work in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, fisheries and construction for up to four years and 10 months.

The programme will be held in five rounds this year to help companies facing labour shortages hire foreign workers.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor said the first round of applications will run from January 26 to February 10, followed by additional rounds in April, July, September and November.

Applicants are required to pass a Korean language test and secure employment through the government-run Employment Permit System.

HRDK said the changes were informed by a survey conducted last year, which found that 48.7 per cent of Korean employers were dissatisfied with the speaking abilities of foreign workers.

Among those respondents, 48.9 per cent cited difficulties in understanding work instructions, while 37.6 per cent said limited language skills hindered workers’ ability to comprehend safety regulations.

To address these concerns, the agency has expanded the interview component of the skills test and increased the number of questions assessing understanding of tool names and workplace instructions.

More detailed questions focusing on occupational safety have also been introduced.

In addition, the minimum passing score for the Test of Proficiency in Korean will be raised for workers across all industries starting this year.

The revised assessment system will take effect for tests conducted this year.

“These improvements are expected to enhance foreign workers’ Korean language capabilities and their awareness of workplace safety,” said Lim Seung-mook, head of HRDK’s international workforce division.

He added that the agency is also developing a workplace conversation manual for foreign workers, which will include key terms and expressions commonly used on the job.