F-4 Visa Holders and Workplace Safety in South Korea: Understanding the Risks

F-4 Visa Holders and Workplace Safety in South Korea

Recent data from the South Korean Labor Ministry highlights a significant concern regarding workplace safety among foreign workers, with F-4 visa holders accounting for a substantial portion of reported accidents and fatalities. In 2025, F-4 visa holders represented 31.3% of all reported foreign worker deaths and 30.0% of nonfatal injury cases. These figures, disclosed on September 28, 2026, by Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Yong-woo’s office, underscore a persistent trend that has seen F-4 workers leading in industrial accident reports for the past five years.

The data is based on industrial accident reports submitted by employers, categorized by visa type. The F-4 visa is designated for overseas ethnic Koreans. It is important to understand that these numbers reflect employer reports and not necessarily the final approved compensation claims by the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service. Furthermore, the percentages indicate the share of reported cases involving F-4 workers, rather than adjusted rates that account for the total number of workers in each visa category. This means the data shows how many incidents involved F-4 workers but does not inherently explain the reasons behind these occurrences or the specific risks faced by individuals within different visa groups.

Trends in F-4 Worker Accidents and Fatalities

The pattern of F-4 visa holders being involved in a high percentage of foreign worker accidents is not a new development. From 2021 through 2025, F-4 workers consistently made up the largest group in both industrial accident cases and deaths among foreign workers each year. During this five-year period, injury cases involving F-4 workers saw an increase, rising from 859 in 2021 to 2,182 in 2025. Similarly, reported deaths within this group also increased, from 9 in 2021 to 35 in 2025.

Early data for 2026 continues this trend, with F-4 workers accounting for 1,387 reported cases in the first quarter. This represented 28.6% of all foreign worker industrial accidents during that period. While this quarterly share is slightly lower than the 30.0% recorded for nonfatal cases in 2025, it is based on a different time frame, and the full-year figures for 2026 are yet to be determined. These ongoing statistics highlight the consistent presence of F-4 workers at the top of foreign worker accident counts.

Safety Education and F-4 Visa Holders

The reporting of these accident figures has brought attention to a gap in access to government-run safety training programs. Despite their significant share of reported accidents and deaths, F-4 workers are currently excluded from some of these essential safety education initiatives. The legislative discussions surrounding this data have included proposals to broaden the reach of basic safety education to include a wider range of visa categories, specifically mentioning F-4 workers.

While the data itself does not establish a direct causal link between training access and accident outcomes, the call for expanded education aims to address potential safety disparities. The figures were shared with the National Assembly, alongside related fatality statistics, bringing migrant worker safety to the forefront of policy discussions. The aim is to ensure that all foreign workers, including those on F-4 visas, have access to the necessary information and training to help prevent workplace injuries and fatalities.

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