F-4 visa holders account for nearly a third of reported foreign worker deaths: report

Nearly 1 in 3 foreign workers whose deaths were reported as work-related last year held F-4 visas for people of Korean descent, according to Labor Ministry data reported Monday by Nocut News.

Of 112 reported deaths involving foreign workers in 2025, 35 involved F-4 visa holders, or 31.3 percent. They also accounted for 2,182 of the 7,271 nonfatal cases reported by employers. F-4 holders had the highest count in both categories among the visa groups listed in the data.

The figures come from industrial accident reports submitted by employers to the Ministry of Employment and Labor. They may differ from the number of cases ultimately approved for workers’ compensation after review by the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service.

F-4 visas are issued to eligible foreign nationals of Korean descent, including some who previously held Korean citizenship or whose parents or grandparents did. As of last year, 556,288 F-4 visa holders lived in Korea, including 387,187 Chinese nationals.

Unlike E-9 visa holders who enter through the Employment Permit System, F-4 workers are not required to complete a separate, standardized safety training program before starting work. Employers still have general workplace safety training obligations, but the ministry said it does not hold training records by visa type outside the E-9 program, according to Nocut News.

“Safety and health training must cover visa groups exposed to industrial accidents, not just E-9 workers, if we are to reduce workplace accidents involving foreign workers,” said Rep. Lee Yong-woo of the Democratic Party of Korea, who obtained the ministry data.

The National Assembly passed an amendment to the Occupational Safety and Health Act in June to expand basic safety and health training for foreign workers. The change is set to take effect on Jan. 8, 2027.

The ministry proposed implementing regulations on Sept. 23 setting out which workers must take the training and when exemptions would apply. Lee urged the ministry to ensure the rules leave no gaps in coverage.