F-4 visa holders linked to 31.3% of reported foreign worker deaths in 2025

According to industrial accident reports submitted to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, 35 of the 112 foreign worker deaths reported in 2025 involved F-4 visa holders, amounting to 31.3% of the fatalities. In addition, F-4 workers were involved in 2,182 of the 7,271 non-fatal workplace incidents. The F-4 visa is granted to foreign nationals of Korean descent, many of whom are Chinese citizens, and unlike E-9 visa holders they do not undergo a separate, standardized safety-training program before employment.

The ministry does not keep training records by visa type outside the E-9 system. Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Lee Yong-woo urged the ministry to ensure that new regulations close any gaps in training coverage. An amendment to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, passed by the National Assembly in June, will broaden basic safety and health training for foreign workers, with the rules slated to take effect on Jan. 8 2027.