In March 2025, large-scale wildfires broke out across the Yeongnam region of South Korea. In response, the Ministry of Justice has put special support measures in place for foreigners registered in the officially designated disaster areas. Even if the fires have disrupted your visa or stay-related matters, please don’t worry, you can receive benefits including fee waivers, penalty exemptions, and employment referrals.

Sources: Ministry of Justice press release (31 March 2025) · Ministry of Justice blog (2 April 2025)

Designated Special Disaster Areas

The following areas have been officially declared Special Disaster Areas due to wildfire damage, in stages:

Declaration dateArea
22 March 2025Sancheong-gun, South Gyeongsang Province
24 March 2025Ulju-gun (Ulsan), Uiseong-gun (North Gyeongsang), Hadong-gun (South Gyeongsang)
27 March 2025Andong-si, Cheongsong-gun, Yeongyang-gun, Yeongdeok-gun (all in North Gyeongsang)

If any additional areas are declared Special Disaster Areas during the support period, they will automatically receive the same benefits.

Who Is Eligible

You are eligible for support if your alien registration (or residence report) has been continuously recorded in one of the designated areas from the date that area was declared a Special Disaster Area up to the present.

What Support Is Available

1. Fee Waivers for Stay and Nationality Procedures

Foreigners registered in a Special Disaster Area do not need to pay fees for the following procedures, as long as they apply by Wednesday, 30 April 2025.

Under the Immigration Act:

  • Permission to engage in activities outside your registered visa category
  • Permission to change your place of work
  • Grant of a residence status
  • Change of residence status
  • Extension of period of stay

Under the Nationality Act:

  • Naturalization
  • Restoration of nationality
  • Acquisition or re-acquisition of nationality (by report)
  • Declaration to retain nationality

2. Waiver of Penalties for Late Renewals or Filings

If the wildfires made it impossible for you to renew your stay or complete required filings on time, you will not be charged a penalty fee or administrative fine for delays through April 2025.

However, if the violation had already begun before your area was declared a Special Disaster Area, only the period from the declaration date to the date you complete the procedure will be excluded from the total violation period.

3. Support for Foreign Seasonal Workers at Fire-Damaged Farms

Support has also been arranged for foreign seasonal workers whose employment was disrupted by the wildfires.

  • Priority referrals to other farms: Seasonal workers who can no longer work at a fire-damaged farm will be connected with available positions at other farms on a priority basis.
  • Expedited visa processing for affected farms: When a fire-damaged farm later resumes operations, the Korea Immigration Service will fast-track the issuance of seasonal worker visas so the farm can hire workers again smoothly.

Getting Help

If you have questions or want to confirm what support you qualify for, please reach out through the contacts below. Figures and deadlines can change depending on the situation, so always check for the latest information before you apply.

  • Immigration Contact Center (1345): Dial 1345 from anywhere in Korea (no area code needed). Consultations are available in Korean, English, Chinese, and other languages.
  • Your local Korea Immigration Service office: You can visit in person or call the office that covers your area of residence.