Effective from 10 December 2009, the government of the Republic of Korea has increased the flexibility of the renewal of work visas.
 
Companies that want to extend the contract with foreign workers whose 3-year visa is about to expire may now do so without a disruption. The existing visa and thus the employment relationship may be extended for up to two years. Prior to the change, foreign workers whose 3-year visa had expired had to leave the country for at least one month before they could continue an existing job or seek new employment.
 
In a further relaxation of existing rules, foreign workers that seek to change their work place may now search a new position for up to 3 months before their visa expires. Previously, foreign workers only had 2 months to find a new job.