South Korea plans major improvements to the E-7-1 visa for overseas Master’s & PhD talent

TL;DR
South Korea is reviewing major updates to the E-7-1 hiring recommendation system (고용추천제).
The government is considering allowing SMEs to hire overseas master’s and PhD-level specialists through the MSS recommendation system, which previously only supported graduates of Korean universities. Proposed improvements include selecting priority recruitment countries, simplifying and speeding up approval steps, strengthening verification, and expanding eligible job types beyond STEM.
If implemented, this could give startups and SMEs more hiring power and create new pathways for global talent.

South Korea is reviewing improvements to the E-7-1 foreign professional hiring recommendation system operated by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) and KOSME.

Important clarification: The E-7 visa itself already exists, and companies have always been able to hire overseas talent through the standard E-7 process. The government is not replacing the E-7 visa. It is reviewing improvements to the separate MSS “recommendation track”, which helps SMEs hire talent more easily.

Public information remains limited. One of the few detailed reports comes from Asia Economy (아시아경제), which covered the government’s research project and proposed ideas.
These improvements are under review and not yet finalized.

Many professionals currently working in Korea enter through:

standard E-7 sponsorship from abroad
E-7 after a D-10 job-seeking visa
E-7 after completing a degree in Korea (D-2 → E-7)

So what is actually being reviewed?

The government is exploring ways to expand and simplify the MSS E-7-1 “recommendation” pathway, which is an optional system where MSS issues recommendation letters to help SMEs hire foreign talent when they struggle to meet the requirements of the normal E-7.

Until now, the recommendation track has mainly supported international students already in Korea.
Now, the government is reviewing potential changes to allow SMEs to also attract highly skilled talent from overseas.

1. Moving beyond domestic graduates

The current MSS/KOSME E-7-1 recommendation system prioritizes:

foreign students who earned degrees in Korea
candidates working in 24 designated job categories chosen by MSS (Important: these 24 categories are specific to the MSS recommendation program, not the full E-7 list.)

While companies can already hire overseas talent directly using the normal E-7 route, the MSS recommendation system did not support overseas applicants.

The reform being reviewed would allow MSS to recommend:

overseas master’s and PhD talent
high-level specialists from reputable universities
candidates with strong technical or R&D backgrounds

This does not replace the normal E-7.
It creates a second, more supportive path specifically for SMEs.

2. Selecting key countries for global recruitment

The government plans to select at least five “priority source countries,” based on:

talent availability
academic/career verification reliability
connection with Korean industries
administrative stability
cultural compatibility

This would help SMEs recruit globally with more confidence and structure.

3. Faster hiring with a simplified process

The standard E-7 process can be:

slow
paperwork-heavy
strict about major/role matching
unpredictable, especially for SMEs

The upcoming MSS reforms review options for:

reducing administrative bottlenecks
shortening the review timeline
designing a fast-track process for exceptional candidates
simplifying documentation

This would make E-7 hiring more accessible for smaller companies.

4. Stronger document verification

To prevent fraud, the government is reviewing ways to enhance verification of:

degrees
academic credentials
employment history

Possible methods include:

partnerships with global verification agencies
direct cooperation with overseas universities
using official certification platforms

This would improve trust and predictability in the process.

5. Expanding beyond STEM fields

The MSS recommendation track historically focused on STEM fields.
The government is now reviewing whether to include non-STEM roles such as:

international sales
product planning
marketing
cross-cultural business roles
global operations

This would help SMEs recruit for global expansion, not only engineering.

Why these improvements matter

These changes do not create a new visa type.
They extend and upgrade the existing government-supported pathway for SMEs.

If implemented, they could:

make hiring overseas talent faster and easier
increase visa approval predictability
open opportunities for global master’s/PhD talent
reduce paperwork
strengthen Korean SMEs’ global competitiveness

What this means for Dev Korea

If the MSS recommendation track expands to include overseas talent:

Dev Korea companies gain access to a larger pool of qualified global applicants
Overseas candidates gain a clearer pathway into Korea
SMEs can hire with more confidence using MSS-backed recommendations
Dev Korea can provide clearer guidance, tools, and support to both sides

In short, these reforms could help Dev Korea match even more companies with highly skilled global professionals, and help talent navigate Korea’s hiring system with far fewer uncertainties.

What happens next

The government is currently conducting research and reviewing design options. We’re watching for official updates on:

which countries will be selected
which job categories will be added
how the fast-track will operate
documentation requirements
expected launch timeline

When official details are released, Dev Korea will share them immediately.

Note: Visa rules may change. Always verify current requirements with Korean immigration authorities or a qualified immigration specialist.

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