“First-ever union for foreign English teachers in Korea fights to end job restrictions”, 14 February2025

Foreign English teachers in Korea formed a labor union for the first time last year, advocating for the rights of around 13,000 instructors at language institutes and public schools. One of the main goals of the union is to eliminate laws that make it illegal for non-Korean workers holding certain types of employment visas to change jobs without their employers' permission.

…All non-Korean workers employed on E-type visas are required to obtain an LOR(letter of release) in order to switch jobs. Failure to secure an LOR usually results in the worker being required to leave the country within 30 days.

This system makes it extremely difficult for foreign workers to speak out against unfair workplace practices, including sexual harassment and verbal abuse, according to Park Jeong-jik, the Korean manager of the union's Seoul branch.

…In an email responding to The Korea Times' request for comment, the Ministry of Justice stated that an LOR is designed to protect the contractual trust between employers and employees, maintain orderly immigration status and safeguard the interests of well-intentioned employers.