Gyeonggi Province is introducing a customized visa program to attract foreign professionals in IT, caregiving, and other fields. Starting on Sep. 15, the province will implement the “Gyeonggi Provincial Visa Pilot Program” to ease labor shortages for businesses and help foreign residents settle more securely in the region.

The program allows foreign nationals to apply for a Specific Activities (E-7) visa with a recommendation letter issued in the governor’s name. It was designed in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice as a region-specific policy. The system is significant because businesses can more reliably hire the skilled workers they need while foreign nationals can secure a long-term stay in Korea.

The program covers 12 professional occupations, including 11 in advanced industries such as computer hardware, software, data, information security, and robotics (E-7-1), as well as 1 in caregiving (E-7-2). Gyeonggi Province plans to recommend up to 630 applicants by 2026.

Applications can be submitted online through Gyeonggi Civil Petition 24 (gg24.gg.go.kr). Applicants must provide documents proving eligibility, such as academic certificates, work histories, and employment contracts. After receiving a recommendation letter, they must apply for visa issuance or status change at an immigration office.

Detailed qualification requirements for each profession are available on the Gyeonggi Province website (gg.go.kr).

Heo Young-gil, Director of the Gyeonggi Province’s Immigrant Society Policy Division, stated, “We expect this program to strengthen competitiveness in advanced industries such as IT and stabilize the labor supply in caregiving,” adding, “We will continue to expand customized residency policies so foreign nationals and local communities can grow together.”

Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggido Business & Science Accelerator announced on Sep. 10 that they dispatched the “China K-Beauty Trade Mission” to Guangzhou and Chongqing. The mission held 200 meetings and secured contracts worth USD 5.82 million.

This trade mission was organized to expand export channels in China, the largest importer of Korean cosmetics.

On Sep. 2, the mission visited Guangzhou, followed by Chongqing on Sep. 4, with 13 companies from Gyeonggi Province taking part. The companies met with 35 local buyers in Guangzhou and Chongqing for business consultations.

As a result, the mission recorded USD 18.13 million in export consultations through 200 meetings. Among these, 172 progressed toward contracts, producing USD 5.82 million in tangible results. Buyers who joined the meetings showed strong interest in K-Beauty products from Korea. As a result, three MOUs were signed on-site.

A representative from Selfycoslab Co., Ltd., based in Hwaseong, stated, “This was a meaningful experience that allowed us to gain insight into the Chinese market and build networks with key buyers,” adding, “The support program from Gyeonggi Province was a great help, and we hope to see continued support for local businesses.”

A representative of Hyunjin C&T Co., Ltd., a Gimpo-based company that manages the natural home-aesthetic brand Dermagarden, commented, “Local buyers showed great interest in product efficacy and brand story. They requested samples and even expressed intent to visit the factory,” continuing, “We see opportunities not only for OEM/ODM partnerships but also for expanding ties with distributors in Asia and America.”

A representative from Beauty in Asia Co., Ltd., a Guri-based manufacturer of mask packs, remarked, “The trade mission gave us an opportunity to hold in-depth discussions with local buyers about product competitiveness and distribution potential,” noting, “It confirmed real possibilities for export growth.”

Park Kyung-seo, Director of Gyeonggi Province’s International Trade Division, said, “Through this China K-Beauty Trade Mission, we secured additional market access for Gyeonggi companies in the largest K-Beauty market,” adding, “We hope exports by small and medium-sized enterprises in Gyeonggi will continue to expand in China.”

Gyeonggi Province also plans to dispatch more trade missions to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Japan, and other global markets to help diversify exports for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The first-stage groups of the 2025 Gyeonggi Youth Climate Emissaries returned to Korea on Aug. 31 after completing their mission. Through this project, youth from Gyeonggi Province have the opportunity to participate in overseas volunteer service; a total of 117 youth took part. Beginning on Aug. 9, they were divided into groups of about 40 and carried out activities for three weeks in Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, and the Philippines.

In Kyrgyzstan, the envoys held climate campaigns, sports events, and cultural exchange programs. They also took part in local community events, receiving high praise.

On Aug. 27, they organized a tree-planting ceremony in Ashar Park to symbolize their volunteer efforts and the friendship between the two countries. A plaque was also unveiled to commemorate their work.

The ceremony was attended by Bishkek Mayor Junushaliev Aybek Zhanishbekovich and Kim Kwang-jae, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Kyrgyz Republic, who encouraged the participants.

The mayor stated, “Your volunteer work is a model case that contributes to strengthening ties between our countries,” adding, “It will play an important role in improving the environment and providing citizens with a more pleasant space.”

Ambassador Kim highlighted the significance of the project, saying, “The trees planted today will grow as a symbol of friendship and a bright future for both countries.” Reflecting the youth’s suggestions, the ambassador also asked the mayor to consider adopting Korea’s waste separation and air quality improvement policies, further underscoring the project’s impact.

Bishkek City Hall and the Korean Embassy also reported the event on their official channels, drawing positive local attention.

In Mongolia, the envoys carried out forest creation and environmental campaigns in Terelj National Park. Their activities emphasized the importance of forest preservation and raised awareness about the climate crisis. In the Philippines, they worked closely with the Department of Education in Sorsogon City to conduct mangrove forest protection classes and tree planting, strengthening environmental awareness among the younger generation.

In October, about 80 youth from the second group of the Gyeonggi Youth Climate Emissaries will be dispatched to Laos and Cambodia.

Jang Mi-ok, Director of International Cooperation Policy, remarked, “The dedication of youth from Gyeonggi Province in addressing the climate crisis across borders will remain a special memory and a valuable asset for local residents and students,” adding, “We will continue to support young people so they can grow into leaders in climate action.”

The Gyeonggi Free Economic Zone Authority (GGFEZ) announced that it hosted the “AI Seminar and Investment Briefing” on August 26 at the Conrad Hotel in Seoul, in collaboration with the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) and The Korea Times, targeting U.S. companies.

At the briefing, the focus was on highlighting the characteristics and investment advantages of three key districts: the Poseung (BIX) District, Pyeongtaek City, as an eco-friendly future mobility production cluster; the Baegot District, Siheung City, which is being developed into a hub for land, sea, and air unmanned vehicles as well as a medical-bio cluster; and the Hyeondeok District, Pyeongtaek City, envisioned as a hydrogen economy city with a global residential environment.

In line with the shift toward a data-driven economy, the event also presented tailored investment approaches for each district, along with various incentives such as tariff, acquisition tax, and property tax reductions, as well as one-stop administrative support services for businesses.

The GGFEZ also introduced new project scales and development concepts in the cities of Goyang and Ansan as part of efforts to expand the designation of the free economic zone.

The event opened with a message from President Lee Jae-myung, delivered by Lee Kyu-yeon, Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication, and was attended by National Assemblyman Maeng Sung-kyu, Chair of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, as well as James Heller, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Korea.

Notably, Ryu Young-sang, Chief Executive Officer of SK Telecom, and Victor Gustav Gao, Chief Communication Officer of the Carlyle Group, delivered keynote lectures on “Global AI Competition: Korea and the Technology-Driven Economy,” and also took part in a panel discussion on “AI in Industry: From Manufacturing, Finance, and Commerce to Semiconductors and Chatbots—Building a Sustainable AI Ecosystem.”

Gyeonggi Province and the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) announced on August 24 that they successfully hosted the four-day 2025 K-Beauty Expo Taiwan from August 15 to 18 at the Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC). The expo was organized to help promising beauty companies in Gyeonggi expand into overseas markets and strengthen their export competitiveness.

Marking its 8th edition this year, the event featured a total of 75 companies—including 40 from Gyeonggi Province—presenting a wide array of K-beauty products ranging from cosmetics and nail care to hair, body care, and perfumes. Of particular note, the expo drew over 150,000 visitors, including 267 Taiwanese buyers and consumers, reaffirming strong demand for K-beauty.

During the one-on-one export consultation sessions held throughout the expo, export consultations reached approximately USD 32.09 million, up 14.6% from the previous year. Contract commitments rose 137.9% year-on-year to USD 9.2 million, while on-site contracts surged 181.7% to USD 100,000, delivering tangible results.

For the 40 participating companies from the province, Gyeonggi provided subsidies covering booth participation fees, interpretation services, and transportation costs—about KRW 3.75 million per company—along with opportunities such as buyer matching, follow-up support, and collaboration with KOTRA to help expand their export markets.

A representative from the participating company Beauty in Asia said, “We are grateful for the extensive support provided as a Gyeonggi-backed company, including assistance with booth fees, interpreters, and logistics. We are especially pleased to have secured a USD 100,000 contract with a local buyer during the on-site consultations.” The representative added, “This year’s event was particularly meaningful as it clearly demonstrated the growing preference for and purchasing power of K-beauty in the Taiwanese market.”

This year’s expo was held alongside the Taipei International Beauty Show—the largest beauty exhibition in Taiwan, now in its 18th year—creating strong synergy and earning recognition as a valuable opportunity for K-beauty companies seeking entry into the Taiwanese market.

Eom Ki-man, Director of Gyeonggi Province’s Bioindustry Division, stated, “There are concerns that recent reciprocal tariffs imposed by the United States may pose challenges for local beauty SMEs,” stressing, “Nevertheless, the province will spare no effort in providing innovative and practical support to help promising small and medium-sized enterprises emerge as new leaders in the global beauty market.”

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province plans to host the K-Beauty Expo Vietnam at the SECC Exhibition Center in Ho Chi Minh City from October 30 to November 1, followed by the K-Beauty Expo Malaysia at the PWCC Exhibition Center in the State of Penang from November 20 to 22.

The Gyeonggido (Gyeonggi Province) Job Foundation announced on August 21 that it has launched the “Foreigner Job Support Center” to provide employment services for foreign job seekers and local companies seeking to hire foreign workers.

Operated online, the center offers career counseling and customized job information for foreign job seekers, while connecting companies struggling with labor shortages to qualified candidates, focusing on addressing workforce imbalances in the province’s industries.

The center primarily serves foreign residents in Gyeonggi Province, including marriage migrants, international students, and migrant workers. Applications can be made through the Gyeonggido Job Portal “Jobaba” (https://job.gg.go.kr), where users can access information on employment support programs for foreigners and receive tailored job placement services.

Companies seeking to hire foreign workers can submit recruitment requests through Jobaba and be matched with foreign job seekers who meet their requirements and desired qualifications. This system helps alleviate job vacancies in the province while enhancing the competitiveness of local businesses.

To further improve accessibility, an “International Talent Recruitment Online Booth” is also available within the Jobaba portal. By accessing the online booth through the “Jobs for Foreigners” menu at the bottom of the website, users can find resources, such as: special employment lectures for international students; employment programs for marriage migrant women; and job postings linked to the foreign employment platform, “KOWORK.” Both job postings and applications can also be submitted easily online.

Yoon Deok-ryong, CEO of the Gyeonggido Job Foundation, stated, “Through the Foreigner Job Support Center, we aim to efficiently connect foreign job seekers with companies, helping resolve labor supply issues in Gyeonggi Province and supporting the stable settlement of foreign workers.”

On August 14, Gyeonggi Province Governor Dong Yeon Kim received a visit from Amit Kumar, the outgoing Indian Ambassador to South Korea, at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex, expressing gratitude for Ambassador Kumar’s efforts in promoting exchanges between Gyeonggi and India.

Governor Kim said to Ambassador Kumar, “Thank you for your significant contributions to enhancing cooperation between South Korea and India, and specifically between Gyeonggi Province and India.” He also welcomed Ambassador Kumar’s proposal to support talented Indian individuals in fields such as semiconductors and AI to study and work in Korea, contributing to practical bilateral cooperation. Governor Kim added, “We will continue practical consultations, including forming a working group, to create synergy through collaboration with India’s skilled talent.”

Ambassador Amit Kumar stated, “Gyeonggi Province is Korea’s largest local autonomy, accounting for a quarter of the country’s GDP and 30 percent of its exports, making it a valuable partner for India,” adding, “With its advanced industries in semiconductors, AI, and biotechnology, I look forward to further cooperation between Gyeonggi and India.”

During his three-year tenure in Korea, Ambassador Kumar actively promoted exchanges and cooperation between Korea and India, including Gyeonggi Province. In March 2023, Ambassador Kumar visited the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex for the first time and invited Governor Kim to India. Four months later, in July 2023, Governor Kim visited the India International Exhibition and Convention Center (Yashobhoomi) in New Delhi, then in the final stages of construction, strengthening a strong working relationship.

Yashobhoomi, managed by the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) under a 20-year operation agreement, successfully hosted the Korea Industrial Exhibition (KoINDEX) in conjunction with G-Fair in 2024, showcasing Gyeonggi’s global exhibition management capabilities. In November 2023, Gyeonggi also established the Gyeonggi Business Center (GBC) in Bengaluru, often referred to as India’s Silicon Valley, providing diverse opportunities for Korean companies entering the Indian market.

Gyeonggi-India exchanges have also expanded into culture. In October 2023, an Indian dance troupe performed traditional Indian dances for Gyeonggi residents at the Gyeonggi Arts Center, hosted by the Indian Cultural Center in Korea. Last year, Gyeonggi Province officials identified and corrected errors in the “Map of the Spread of Buddhism in East Asia” at the National Museum of India in New Delhi, including mislabeling of country names and locations, contributing to mutual understanding between the two nations.

This year, marking the 10th anniversary of Korea and India’s elevation to a special strategic partnership, the two countries are actively strengthening cooperation, including a summit during the G7, with Gyeonggi Province planning to expand collaboration in economic, trade, and future growth sectors.

Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Business & Science Accelerator are recruiting companies to join the “2025 New York Investment Attraction Program for Gyeonggi Startups’ Global Growth Support,” designed to help startups in the province enter the US market. Applications will be accepted until August 22.

This program offers customized startup planning (acceleration), local demo days, and exchange programs for promising startups in Gyeonggi seeking to expand to the US. The goal is to enhance opportunities for commercialization and investment by connecting participants with local investors and business leaders.

Eligible companies are startups headquartered in Gyeonggi Province that have been in business for seven years or less, with a maximum of ten years allowed for new industry sectors. Twenty promising companies in technology fields such as content, fintech, and digital healthcare will be selected through document review and presentation evaluations.

Selected companies will receive comprehensive support throughout the program, including assessments of global expansion capabilities, investor relations (IR) capability enhancement consultations, New York investment briefing (IR) and one-on-one investment consultations, participation in the global startup event (KOOM 2025) hosted by the United Korean Founders (UKF), and follow-up investment connections.

In collaboration with CNT Tech and Plug and Play, meetings with local venture capitalists (VCs) will be arranged. During the program, participants will also attend the “KOOM 2025” event hosted by the UKF to gain insights from experienced entrepreneurs and engage in networking opportunities. Companies that stand out may also receive direct investment of up to KRW 1 billion and connections to the private investment-led Technology Startup Support (TIPS) program.

Companies wishing to participate can apply online via the Gyeonggi Startup Platform (www.gsp.or.kr) by 5 p.m. on August 22. For further information, contact the Startup Global Team at the Gyeonggi Business & Science Accelerator (Phone: +82-31-8039-7104).

Park Yang-deok, Director of Gyeonggi Province’s Venture & Startup Division stated, “This program is an exceptional opportunity for startups in the province to expand and grow in the US market,” adding, “We will continue to expand opportunities for outstanding startups to go global and scale up.”

The 2025 Gyeonggi Youth Climate Emissaries—a civilian delegation dispatched by Gyeonggi Province to address climate disparities in developing countries—held its launch ceremony on August 1 and began its official activities.

The program provides overseas volunteer opportunities for Gyeonggi residents aged 19 to 39, enabling them to participate in climate action projects in developing countries. This year the program received applications from 494 young adults, reaching a competition rate of 2.5 to 1, with 200 candidates selected for the final roster. They will be dispatched to five countries: Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Laos.

The first group of 120 members will travel to Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, and the Philippines from August 9 to 29, with 40 members assigned to each country. The second group of 80 members will be dispatched to Cambodia and Laos in October, with 40 members per country.

Their main activities will include tree planting suitable for the characteristics of each country, environmental maintenance, environmental education, climate action campaigns, cultural exchanges, and various other volunteer activities and exchange events.

At the launch ceremony, participants strengthened their sense of mission and commitment through an orientation program that included videos on overseas volunteer activities, a special lecture, and the presentation of appointment certificates.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Dong Yeon Kim delivered a video message, stating, “The climate crisis is no longer a distant concern. Rather, we face a challenge that the entire world must tackle together. The Gyeonggi Youth Climate Emissaries are key players in the global response, and Gyeonggi Province will fully support them in carrying out their mission,” adding, “I hope they gain valuable experiences during their activities and return safely and in good health.”

Gyeonggi Province is conducting its first-ever human rights survey of foreign seasonal workers within the province until August 30.

The Foreign Seasonal Worker Program supports the legal short-term employment of foreign workers in agriculture, including matters such as immigration requirements and employee management, to address labor shortages caused by the declining rural population, aging workforce, and rising labor costs. Seasonal workers are eligible to stay in Korea for up to eight months,

The Ministry of Justice allocates foreign seasonal workers based on requests from local governments. Since launching the program in 2021, Gyeonggi Province has seen the number of workers grow annually, from 1,497 in 2023 to 2,877 in 2024 and 5,258 in 2025.

Unlike migrant workers who must pass a Korean language test under the employment permit system, seasonal workers undergo no such procedure, resulting in many who do not speak Korean. This language barrier, coupled with issues like poor working conditions and problematic brokers, increases their risk of human rights violations.

The provincial government has underscored this issue, focusing on the fact that seasonal workers may struggle to report abuses immediately or receive appropriate support.

This survey is jointly conducted by Gyeonggi’s Human Rights Officer, Agricultural Policy Division, and the Gyeonggi Agro-Fisheries Institute, as well as by Hanyang University’s Institute of Globalization and Multicultural Studies. Its purpose is to accurately assess the human rights status of foreign seasonal workers and to inform policy development.

Since June 14, surveyors have visited 115 farms in 19 cities and counties, interviewing 420 foreign seasonal workers about employment contracts, wage arrears, living conditions, verbal abuse, sexual harassment, and illegal brokerage.

To facilitate understanding, questionnaires are available in six languages—Vietnamese, Lao, Khmer, Tagalog, Thai, and Nepali. Interpreters also accompany surveyors to address language barriers and hear workers’ concerns, including their Korean proficiency and adaptation to life in Korea.

The Gyeonggi Agro-Fisheries Institute is also distributing heatwave safety posters and prevention kits to protect workers from heat-related illnesses and promote safe farming practices.

Starting in September, the initiative will collect feedback on the seasonal worker program’s status and field-related issues from 100 employers and 30 provincial, city and county officials, as well as Nonghyup staff members, to facilitate institutional improvements.

Survey results will be used to develop sustainable policies for the foreign seasonal worker program and will form the basis of a policy recommendation report to be submitted to the Gyeonggi Human Rights Commission in December.

Choi Hyeon-jeong, Gyeonggi-do’s Human Rights Officer, stated, “We will assess human rights conditions of foreign seasonal workers in the province and establish practical measures to improve them.” She added, “We stand committed to creating an environment in Gyeonggi Province that supports foreign seasonal workers facing challenges in Korea and on the farms that employ them.”