Korea’s latest revised 2025 per-capita Gross National Income (GNI) is KRW 52.57 million. The Bank of Korea published this provisional figure on June 9, 2026, replacing the earlier KRW 52.416 million estimate released in March.
For E-7 applicants, GNI matters mainly because the official E-7 guidance contains a high-income professional exception. It is separate from the ordinary annual minimum salary rules for E-7-1 through E-7-4.
2026 key figures
- Latest revised 2025 per-capita GNI: KRW 52,570,000
- Three times GNI: KRW 157,710,000
- E-7 rule: education and experience requirements may be waived for a high-income professional whose total annual remuneration is at least 3× the previous year’s GNI
- Separate rule: ordinary E-7 minimum salaries are maintained in the E-7 salary guide
This article previously stated that all E-7 cases would continue to use the 2024 GNI figure of KRW 49.95 million until March 2027 and that a new E-7 wage system would replace it in the second half of 2026. We could not verify those statements in the current official E-7 manual or a direct Ministry of Justice notice, so they have been removed. The figures above use the Bank of Korea’s latest revised 2025 GNI release and the E-7 rule published in the July 9, 2026 residence-status manual.
What the Official E-7 Manual Says
The Ministry of Justice’s Residence Civil-Petition Guide by Status of Stay, updated July 9, 2026, states that a “high-income professional” whose total annual remuneration is at least three times the previous year’s per-capita GNI may have both education and experience requirements waived, regardless of occupation. A ministry employment recommendation is not required for this exception.
Using the latest revised 2025 GNI of KRW 52.57 million, the arithmetic threshold is:
| Calculation | Amount | Source date |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 per-capita GNI | KRW 52,570,000 | Bank of Korea, June 9, 2026 |
| 3× GNI | KRW 157,710,000 | Calculated from the latest revised GNI figure |
The exception waives the standard education and experience requirements. It does not automatically waive the need for an eligible E-7 occupation, a qualifying Korean employer, a genuine employment contract, occupation-specific requirements, immigration review, or any separate employer-protection rule.
This Is Not the Ordinary E-7 Minimum Salary
Most applicants do not use the 3× GNI exception. They qualify through the normal education or experience pathway and must meet the annual salary threshold for their E-7 subcategory and any occupation-specific rule.
Those changing annual figures are maintained in one place: E-7 Salary Requirements. Keeping the salary amounts in that source article prevents outdated numbers from being copied across the E-7 series.
Which GNI Figure Should You Use?
The E-7 manual refers to the previous year’s per-capita GNI published by the Bank of Korea. The Bank of Korea revised its March estimate and published the latest provisional 2025 figure of KRW 52.57 million on June 9, 2026. This article therefore uses the latest published figure and will be updated if the statistic is revised again.
If your case was filed under an earlier figure, or an immigration office gives you a case-specific calculation, confirm the amount directly with Immigration Contact Center 1345 before relying on this page. An administrative office may apply the figure and timing relevant to the filing date.
Practical Checklist
- Confirm that the proposed job is an eligible E-7 occupation.
- Confirm whether you qualify through the normal education/experience route or are relying on the high-income exception.
- Use total annual remuneration stated in the employment contract and prepare supporting income documents requested by immigration.
- Check the current E-7 minimum salary separately.
- For a borderline or time-sensitive filing, verify the applicable GNI figure with 1345 or the competent immigration office.
Bank of Korea, 2024 National Accounts (Final) and 2025 National Accounts (Preliminary), published June 9, 2026: 2025 per-capita GNI KRW 52.57 million.
Ministry of Justice, Residence Civil-Petition Guide by Status of Stay, updated July 9, 2026, pp. 213-214: E-7 general and high-income professional exceptions.
Ministry of Justice Notice No. 2025-406, 2026 E-7 salary requirements.
Last reviewed: August 6, 2026. This guide is general information, not individualized legal advice. Rules and administrative practice may change; verify a time-sensitive application with HiKorea or Immigration Contact Center 1345.