Foreign workers gather produce at a farm in Busan, Wednesday. Korea will allow as many as 130,000 foreign nationals to work here in 2025 under a permit system that enables Korean employers to hire workers from abroad in certain industries amid labor shortages, officials said on Friday. Yonhap

Korea will allow up to 130,000 foreign nationals to work in the country in 2025 under a permit system that enables Korean employers to hire workers from abroad in specific industries facing labor shortages.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on Friday that a cap on the number of foreign workers who can be hired under the Employment Permit System next year was set at 130,000, a decrease from this year's 165,000.

The program, in collaboration with 17 partner nations, was created for Korean employers who were struggling to find workers in 2004. Tajikistan is also set to join the list next year.

Under the system, E-9 visa holders can work in manufacturing, construction and other industry sectors, where worker shortages are prevalent.

The figure was determined based on the results of its demand estimates, said the ministry, adding that factors such as a potential economic recession were also considered.

By industry, up to 72,000 workers will be allowed to work in Korea's manufacturing sectors and a maximum of 10,000 can be employed in agricultural and dairy industries, followed by fishing (8,500), service (3,000), shipbuilding (2,500) and construction (2,000). The remaining 32,000 visas can be issued if there is a request from any of these industries, the ministry said.

The ministry also plans to issue E-8 visas to 75,000 foreigners next year. Under the scheme, migrant workers are given a permit to work during busy periods for up to eight months. The figure increased from 68,000 this year.