There are 517 foreign nationals working in Jecheon with non-professional employment (E-9) status (as of the end of June 2026). Most work in manufacturing (465), and 41 work in agriculture. E-9 is a visa with a fixed period that does not let you bring your family, so if you want to live in Jecheon long term, it is a good idea to prepare in advance for changing to a skilled worker visa.
How long you can stay with E-9
- When you first enter Korea, you can work for up to 3 years.
- If your employer applies for re-employment, you can work for another 1 year and 10 months, staying for up to 4 years and 10 months in total.
- Extensions of your period of stay are granted by the immigration office in line with your employment contract period (you can apply from 4 months before expiry).
When you change companies: be sure to meet the deadlines
- When your employment contract ends, you must apply to the Employment Center for a change of workplace within 1 month, and obtain permission to change your place of employment to the new company within 3 months from the date you applied. If you miss the deadline, you will be required to leave Korea.
- The number of times you can change is limited (3 times during the first 3 years, 2 times during the re-employment period). Cases that are not your fault, such as business closure, unpaid wages or unfair treatment, are not counted.
- You must not start working at the new company before you receive permission.
Reports you must make
- If you move, report your change of address within 15 days
- If your occupation or income changes, report your employment information within 15 days (from the second half of 2026, only online reporting on HiKorea is possible)
- If you quit or are dismissed, your employer must report the change in employment within 15 days.
If you have unpaid wages or have been assaulted
- For foreign nationals who report unpaid wages to a labor office or take part in its investigation, public officials' duty to notify is waived (since November 2025). You do not have to put off reporting out of worry about your stay.
- Human rights violations can be reported to option 1 of the 1345 Immigration Contact Center (20 languages).
Ways to live in Jecheon long term with your family
| Route | Key requirements |
|---|---|
| Region-specific skilled worker (E-7-4R) | Stay of 2 years or more with E-9 or similar status, Chungcheongbuk-do (Chungbuk) recommendation, contract with an annual salary of KRW 26 million or more, 200 points or more. Condition: live and work in Jecheon for 3 years |
| Skilled worker (E-7-4) | 4 years or more with E-9 or similar status (special rule: 3 years in non-capital areas + local government recommendation), company recommendation, 200 points or more |
- Once you become a skilled worker, you can bring your spouse and children, and if you live in Jecheon for 3 years or more with E-7-4R, you can change to residence (F-2-R).
- Because Jecheon is a population decline area, the special rules of a 50% hiring limit for E-7-4 and 20 bonus points for work apply.
- From June 2026, if you changed companies through no fault of your own, your period of work at the previous company is also counted.
- Chungbuk E-7-4R recommendation applications are accepted until December 24, 2026 (Future Policy Division, Jecheon City Hall), and the special deferral of the Korean language requirement lasts until December 31.
Jecheon Bareun Visa can help
- E-9 extensions (including extensions after re-employment), and applications on your behalf to the immigration office for permission to change your place of employment after Employment Center approval
- Reports such as change of address and employment information
- E-7-4R and E-7-4 point calculation and requirement review, preparing Chungbuk recommendation application documents and submitting them on your behalf, and change applications at the immigration office
- Preparing to invite your family and switch to F-2-R after you become a skilled worker
Employment Center tasks such as change-of-workplace applications and re-employment permits can be handled on your behalf only by agencies designated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, so we do not take them on. We also do not introduce or broker jobs. Instead, we help with immigration procedures and the switch to skilled worker status from start to finish. Please contact us via Book a visit or Ask a question.
Related articles: E-9 workers switching to skilled worker (E-7-4) status · Jecheon is a population decline area
Sources
- Hiring limit for foreign skilled workers in rural and fishing areas expanded to 50%… previous work experience also recognized when foreign workers change jobs due to 'unfair circumstances' — Ministry of Justice press release, 1 Jun 2026.
- "Foreign victims of unpaid wages no longer need to fear deportation" — Ministry of Justice press release, 6 Nov 2025.
- Expanded implementation of "online reporting of foreign nationals' employment information" — Ministry of Justice press release, 16 Dec 2025.
- Ministry of Justice launches '1345 Call Center option 1' for human rights violations against foreign nationals — Ministry of Justice press release, 7 Jul 2026.
- Chungcheongbuk-do Public Notice No. 2026-1279 (E-7-4R, 9th round) (충청북도 공고 제2026-1279호), Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers (외국인근로자의 고용 등에 관한 법률), Ministry of Justice Immigration and Foreign Policy Monthly Statistics, June 2026 (법무부 출입국·외국인정책 통계월보)
The information above is as of the date of the Ministry of Justice press release. Actual requirements must be checked against the laws and guidelines in effect when you apply. If you have any questions, please leave them via Ask a question.