This file photo shows a welder working on a vessel at a shipbuilding yard in Ulsan, Oct. 25, 2021. Courtesy of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries

Korea will train and employ workers from Uzbekistan through a special program designed for the southeastern port city of Ulsan, which is a major hub for the country's shipbuilding industry, officials said on Thursday.

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, about 280 workers will receive training in Uzbekistan to acquire the skills and knowledge required to build ships and will arrive in Korea later this year to work at shipbuilding companies. They will have E-9 work visas, which are for foreign laborers employed in labor-intensive industries such as agriculture, construction and manufacturing.

The program was launched under the ministry's broader plan to hire 130,000 workers from other countries on that visa this year amid Korea's growing labor shortages resulting from its persistently low birthrate.

"The program is expected to benefit both the workers and companies here as education and training for the worker would reduce the risk of industrial accidents and increase their work productivity," an official told reporters.

This decision came after ministry officials approved a proposal from the Ulsan city government, which suggested that providing training in key shipbuilding skills — such as welding and painting — before the workers arrived would not only make their work safer but also significantly improve efficiency.

Training for the first group of workers is set to begin on March 18 at a facility provided by the Uzbekistan government, as part of the agreement between the two countries. The Ulsan city government will cover the training costs at this location.

The first group is expected to arrive in Korea in July, followed by additional groups throughout the rest of 2025. Upon arrival, they will undergo a one-week orientation covering the labor system, safety rules and culture of the country. City officials said finding jobs in the industry will not be difficult, given that demand for workers is high, and they would help them during the whole process.

"The pilot project is meaningful in that the local government and companies will participate and directly train the workers they need. That way, the companies will have skilled workers and the workers will adjust quickly. As a result, the involved parties will have better communication, fewer industrial accidents and an improved work productivity," the ministry said in a release. "After seeing the result of this trial program, we will discuss whether it would be better to adopt more such tailored schemes also for other industries."

Officials hope that the program will succeed in creating a safer work environment. A report released in November 2024 showed that 443 workers died as a result of industrial accidents between January and September here. Speaking to The Korea Times, an official said foreign workers — approximately 3.24 percent of the total workforce in Korea — accounted for more than 15 percent of the fatalities.

As the government seeks to further improve its Employment Permit System, it plans to allow and encourage more companies to design future programs that facilitate the hiring of foreign workers.

"Starting with shipbuilding, we will expand collaboration models involving ‘consumers' such as local governments and local companies," Vice Minister Kim Min-seok said.