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지역특화형 비자 F-2-R의 한국어 요건 TOPIK 4급에서 3급으로 완화…추천서 발급 기한은 12월 31일까지 연장

Korean Requirement for the Regional Specialised Visa F-2-R Eased From TOPIK Level 4 to Level 3, and the Recommendation Deadline Extended to 31 December

Part of the September 10, 2026 daily edition

전남광주통합특별시는 지역특화형 비자의 한국어 능력 요건 완화와 추천서 발급 기간 연장에 맞춰 외국인 근로자와 유학생의 지역 취업·정착 지원을 강화한다고 6일 밝혔습니다. 지역특화형 비자는 인구감소지역에 살면서 일하는 외국인에게 정주형 체류자격을 주는 제도로, 그중 ‘지역특화 우수인재(F-2-R)’ 비자는 국내 대학을 졸업한 유학생과 E-7 비자 근로자 등에게 거주 자격(F-2)을 줍니다. 이 비자의 한국어 요건이 TOPIK 4급에서 3급으로 낮아졌습니다. 정확히는 TOPIK 4급 또는 사회통합프로그램(KIIP) 4단계 이상에서 TOPIK 3급 또는 KIIP 3단계 이상으로 완화된 것입니다. 숙련 근로자를 위한 ‘지역특화 숙련인력(E-7-4R)’ 비자로 전환할 때 적용되는 한국어 요건(TOPIK 2급 등)의 한시적 유예는 올해 말까지이므로, 전환을 원하는 근로자와 기업은 그 안에 신청해야 합니다. 법무부의 제도 개선에 따라 2026년 지역특화형 비자 추천서 발급 기한도 당초 9월 30일에서 12월 31일까지 3개월 연장됐습니다.

Translation

전남광주통합특별시, the merged regional government of 전남 and 광주, said on the 6th that it is stepping up support for foreign workers and international students to find jobs and settle in the region, in step with an easing of the Korean-language requirement for the regional specialised visa and an extension of the recommendation period. The regional specialised visa is a scheme that gives a settlement-type residence status to foreigners who live and work in depopulating areas; within it, the 'regional specialised talent (F-2-R)' visa grants residence status (F-2) to graduates of Korean universities, E-7 visa workers and others. The Korean-language requirement for this visa has been lowered from TOPIK level 4 to level 3. To be exact, it was eased from TOPIK level 4 or stage 4 of the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP) or higher, to TOPIK level 3 or KIIP stage 3 or higher. The temporary suspension of the Korean-language requirement (TOPIK level 2 and so on) that applies when switching to the 'regional specialised skilled worker (E-7-4R)' visa runs only until the end of this year, so workers and companies who want to switch need to apply within that period. Following a rule change by the Ministry of Justice, the deadline for issuing 2026 regional specialised visa recommendations has also been extended by three months, from 30 September to 31 December.

Vocabulary

  • 체류자격명사 (noun)a residence status, a visa status
  • 정착명사 (noun)settling down (in a place)
  • 요건명사 (noun)a requirement
  • 완화되다동사 (verb)to be eased, to be relaxed
  • 숙련명사 (noun)skill, being skilled
  • 전환하다동사 (verb)to switch, to convert
  • 유예명사 (noun)a grace period, a deferment
  • 기한명사 (noun)a deadline, a time limit

Grammar points

N에 맞춰in step with N, in line with N

맞춰 is the -아/어 form of 맞추다, to fit or align, and N에 맞춰 says an action is timed or shaped to match N. 요건 완화에 맞춰 지원을 강화하다 is to step up support in step with the easing of the requirement. It differs from N에 따라, which marks a cause or a rule being followed; 맞춰 marks coordination.

Example: 요건 완화와 발급 기간 연장에 맞춰 지역 취업·정착 지원을 강화합니다.

It is stepping up support for jobs and settlement in the region, in step with the easing of the requirement and the extension of the issuing period.

-(으)므로because, since (formal)

-(으)므로 gives a reason in a formal, written register, and it attaches to verbs, adjectives and 이다 alike: 올해 말까지이므로 is 'since it runs until the end of the year'. Unlike -아/어서 it can be followed by a command or a suggestion, which is why official notices use it. In speech it sounds stiff; use -(으)니까 instead.

Example: 한시적 유예는 올해 말까지이므로 전환을 원하는 근로자와 기업은 그 안에 신청해야 합니다.

Since the temporary suspension runs only until the end of this year, workers and companies who want to switch need to apply within that period.

-(으)ㄴ 것이다the point is that, what happened is that (explanatory)

것이다 after a past modifier restates or explains what was just said, rather than adding a new event. 완화된 것입니다 does not say the easing happened twice; it spells out exactly what the previous sentence's 낮아졌습니다 consisted of. Writers use it to give the precise version after a simple one, which is what this lesson does.

Example: 정확히는 TOPIK 4급 또는 KIIP 4단계 이상에서 TOPIK 3급 또는 KIIP 3단계 이상으로 완화된 것입니다.

To be exact, it was eased from TOPIK level 4 or KIIP stage 4 or higher, to TOPIK level 3 or KIIP stage 3 or higher.

Source:아시아투데이License: Original composition

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