Two Sri Lankan migrant workers have been awarded skilled-worker visas allowing them to remain in South Korea indefinitely, four years after saving two Air Force pilots whose fighter jet crashed in the Yellow Sea.
In August 2022, three Sri Lankan workers aboard a fishing vessel off South Korea's western coast responded to an emergency when a military fighter jet caught fire and crashed into the Yellow Sea near Hwaseong, approximately 45 kilometers south of Seoul. Working alongside the boat's South Korean captain, the men retrieved two Air Force pilots from the water and brought them to safety.
The South Korean Justice Ministry has now recognized their heroic actions by granting two of the three rescuers E-7-4 skilled-worker visas, which represent a significant upgrade from their previous employment status. Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho stated that the decision reflected the workers' "exceptional contribution to the national interest" in saving lives. According to the ministry, the third crew member had already secured long-term residency prior to this announcement.
At the time of the rescue, all three men were employed under South Korea's Employment Permit System with E-9 temporary visas, a designation typically reserved for foreign workers in labor-shortage sectors. These visas permitted stays of up to four years and ten months. The newly granted E-7-4 status allows initial stays of two years with the possibility of indefinite renewal in two-year increments, substantially improving the workers' prospects for stable long-term residence.
The recognition comes several months after the Air Force chief of staff formally acknowledged the rescuers' contributions with an official letter of appreciation in May. Officials have indicated they intend to continue supporting foreign nationals who demonstrate exceptional service to South Korean society.
