The G-1 visa is Korea's humanitarian and special circumstance status — officially '기타' (other). G-1 is not a standard category you apply for by choice; it is assigned by immigration when a foreign national's situation does not fit standard categories but they have a legitimate reason to remain in Korea. G-1 subtypes cover asylum seekers, domestic violence victims, trafficking victims, patients receiving ongoing medical treatment, workers in labor disputes, and other protected situations.
G-1 is Korea's protective and transitional status, granted when:
• A foreign national's life, safety, or legal rights require temporary stay in Korea
• A foreign national is engaged in ongoing legal or administrative proceedings
• A foreign national needs ongoing medical treatment that cannot be interrupted
• A foreign national falls into a specific protected category
G-1 is NOT:
• A pathway to permanent residency in normal circumstances
• An open work status (most subtypes have work restrictions)
• Available on demand — G-1 is assigned by immigration officers or applied for with specific documentation
The official G-1 subtype numbers per the 2026 Foreign Resident Stay Manual (외국인체류 안내 매뉴얼):
G-1-1: Industrial accident (산업재해)
• For foreign workers who suffered a workplace accident and are receiving treatment or in compensation proceedings
• Duration: Duration of treatment and proceedings
• Work: Generally authorized at the same workplace after medical clearance
G-1-2: Illness or accident treatment (질병/사고 치료)
• For foreign nationals receiving medical treatment for illness or accident in Korea where departure would endanger health or interrupt treatment
• Requires hospital documentation (진단서 + 의사소견서)
• Work: Not authorized
G-1-3: Ongoing litigation (소송 진행 중)
• For foreign nationals who are a party, victim, or key witness in ongoing criminal or civil proceedings in Korea
• Duration: Duration of the proceedings
• Contact: Your attorney or the nearest legal aid center
G-1-4: Wage theft and labor dispute (임금체불/노동관계 분쟁)
• For foreign workers pursuing unpaid wage claims or labor rights disputes through the Ministry of Employment and Labor or courts
• Work authorization may be granted to cover living expenses during proceedings
• Contact: 1350 (Ministry of Employment and Labor hotline)
G-1-5: Refugee status applicant (난민신청자)
• For foreign nationals who formally applied for refugee status under the Refugee Act (난민법)
• Duration: 6 months, renewable while application is pending
• Work: Available after 6 months if the application is still undecided
• Apply at immigration office within 1 year of entry
G-1-6: Humanitarian stay permit (인도적 체류허가)
• For foreign nationals not qualifying for full refugee status but facing serious humanitarian risks if deported
• Often granted to asylum seekers from active conflict zones
• Duration: 1 year, renewable. Work: Requires separate application.
G-1-8: Long-stay children (장기체류 아동)
• For foreign children who have lived in Korea for an extended period and have no other qualifying status
• Covers children who grew up in Korea and are enrolled in Korean schools
G-1-9: Pregnancy and childbirth (임신·출산)
• For foreign nationals in Korea who are pregnant or have recently given birth and whose visa would otherwise expire
• Duration: Until mother and child are in stable condition for travel
• Work: Generally not authorized
G-1-10: Foreign patient (외국인 환자)
• For foreign nationals on short-stay visas who are receiving inpatient treatment and cannot depart
• Distinct from C-3-3 medical tourism (which is a pre-planned entry) — G-1-10 is for unexpected medical needs
• Requires hospital documentation confirming ongoing treatment necessity
G-1-11: Sexual violence victim (성폭력 피해자)
• For foreign nationals who are victims of sexual violence in Korea, during proceedings and recovery
• Contact: 117 (trafficking/violence hotline), 1366 (domestic violence/sexual violence hotline)
G-1-12: Family of humanitarian permit holder (인도적 체류허가자 가족)
• For the immediate family of G-1-6 (humanitarian stay permit) holders
• Duration: Tied to the primary G-1-6 holder's permit
G-1-99: Other humanitarian circumstances
• Catch-all for exceptional cases not covered by G-1-1 through G-1-12 — assessed individually by the immigration officer
| G-1 Subtype | Work Authorization |
|---|---|
| G-1-1 (industrial accident) | Generally authorized after medical clearance |
| G-1-2 (illness/accident treatment) | Not authorized |
| G-1-3 (litigation) | Case-by-case |
| G-1-4 (labor/wage dispute) | May be authorized |
| G-1-5 (refugee applicant) | After 6 months if undecided |
| G-1-6 (humanitarian) | Requires separate application |
| G-1-9 (pregnancy/childbirth) | Not authorized |
| G-1-10 (foreign patient) | Not authorized |
| G-1-11 (sexual violence victim) | Generally authorized |
To apply for work authorization on G-1, submit a 취업활동허가 (permission to engage in employment) application at the immigration office with supporting documentation.
G-1 cannot be 'applied for' like a regular visa — it is assigned in response to a specific circumstance:
Industrial accident (G-1-1): Report the workplace accident to the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service (근로복지공단). They coordinate with immigration to issue G-1-1 while the compensation process runs.
Refugee applicant (G-1-5): Go to an immigration office (or port of entry) and formally request refugee status. You will receive G-1-5 while the application is reviewed.
Labor/wage dispute (G-1-4): File a wage theft complaint with the Ministry of Employment and Labor (1350) before your visa expires, then visit immigration with proof of the pending claim.
Medical stay (G-1-2 or G-1-10): Have your Korean hospital provide a medical necessity letter. Submit to immigration before your current visa expires.
Sexual violence victim (G-1-11): Contact 117 or 1366. Protection triggers on identification — immigration enforcement is suspended while you receive support.
G-1-4 trafficking victims: you do not need to 'prove' trafficking before getting protection — identification by a trusted organization triggers protection. Contact 117 first.
If your visa expires while you are a victim or witness in an active legal case, visit immigration before the expiry. G-1-6 can be obtained even in the week before expiry.
G-1-9 medical stay: get hospital documentation early. The hospital's international patient office handles this.
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Our specialists handle g-1 humanitarian visa korea — asylum, medical stay, domestic violence & all subtypes cases regularly and know exactly what Korean immigration officers look for.
Find a SpecialistCan I work in Korea while my refugee application is pending on G-1-5?
Not immediately — G-1-5 work authorization is only available after 6 months have passed since the refugee application was submitted and a decision has not yet been made. After the 6-month mark, apply for 취업활동허가 at the immigration office.
My work visa expired but I have an unpaid wage dispute. Can I stay?
Yes — this is exactly what G-1-4 is for. File the wage dispute formally with the Ministry of Employment and Labor (1350) before your visa expires, then visit immigration with proof of the pending claim to apply for G-1-4.
Can G-1 lead to permanent residency?
Rarely. Full refugee status recognition (not just G-1-1 applicant status) can eventually lead to F-2 and then F-5 pathways. Other G-1 subtypes are protective/transitional and do not normally convert to permanent residency without independently qualifying for another pathway.