Two Sri Lankan migrant workers who helped rescue two South Korean Air Force pilots from the Yellow Sea in 2022 have been granted skilled-worker visas allowing them to stay in the country long term.
South Korea’s Justice Ministry announced the decision on Friday, citing the men’s “exceptional contribution to the national interest” in saving lives. A third Sri Lankan involved in the rescue had already obtained long-term residency.
The rescue
The men were aboard a fishing vessel off the coast of Hwaseong, about 45 kilometres south of Seoul, on August 12, 2022, when they spotted two pilots in the water. The pilots’ fighter jet had gone down after an engine fire.
Working with the boat’s South Korean captain, the three Sri Lankan workers pulled the pilots from the sea and brought them to safety.
What changes for them
At the time of the rescue, all three were in South Korea under the Employment Permit System on E-9 visas — the status typically issued to foreign workers in sectors facing labour shortages. E-9 holders can stay for a maximum of four years and 10 months.
The two men granted E-7-4 skilled-worker status on Friday can initially remain for up to two years. That status can then be renewed in two-year increments with no cap on the number of extensions, giving them a route to a considerably more settled life than the temporary-worker visa allowed.
“We will continue to support foreigners who have made special contributions to our society so that they can live stably in the country,” Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho said.
The visa decision follows a letter of appreciation the men received in May from the Air Force chief of staff for their part in saving the two pilots.
Context
South Korea is a significant destination for Sri Lankan labour migration, with placements handled through the Employment Permit System. Sri Lanka’s foreign employment sector has been running at high volume this year, with the Bureau of Foreign Employment reporting record monthly departures in July.
Both Ada Derana and Daily Mirror carried the report on Friday; Daily Mirror attributed the copy to Korea Bizwire.
