The manual divides essential personnel into three types: Executive, Senior Manager and Specialist. An executive primarily directs the management of the organization and cannot directly perform the actual supply of services; a senior manager is responsible for setting and implementing goals and policies and has hiring and firing authority (or recommendation power), excluding front-line supervisors; and a specialist has highly specialized and exclusive experience and knowledge essential to research, design, technology or management of the company’s services.
Key Summary
- Executive: primarily directs organization management, a top executive receiving only general direction from the board and shareholders, cannot directly perform actual service supply
- Senior Manager: responsible for goals and policies, with hiring/firing authority or recommendation; front-line supervisors and direct service providers excluded
- Specialist: highly specialized, exclusive experience and knowledge essential to research, design, technology or management
- D-8-1 essential personnel exclude persons hired in Korea
1. How is essential personnel classified?
The manual’s essential personnel table divides the scope into Executive, Senior Manager and Specialist. It is the standard for explaining which type you are in a D-8-1 essential personnel application.
2. Who is an executive?
A person who primarily directs organizational management, exercises broad decision-making authority, and as the company’s top executive receives only general direction and supervision from the board and shareholders. An executive cannot directly perform the actual supply of services or work related to the organization’s services.
3. Who is a senior manager?
A person responsible for establishing and carrying out the goals and policies of the company or a department, with planning, direction and supervision authority and the power to hire and fire (or recommend), who decides, supervises and controls the work of other supervisory, professional or managerial staff or exercises discretion over daily work. Front-line supervisors whose subordinates are not professional service providers, and those directly engaged in supplying services, are not included.
4. Who is a specialist?
A person with highly specialized and exclusive experience and knowledge essential to the research, design, technology or management of the company’s services.
5. What about locally hired persons?
For D-8-1, the manual separately states that persons hired in Korea are excluded from essential personnel.
6. Common problems
- Explaining that a representative who personally sells, builds or consults meets the executive test
- Applying as a senior manager without authority over staffing
- Failing to show a specialist’s “exclusive” experience with objective material
7. How A-One Certified Administrative Agent can help
Based on your job description and organization chart, we check which type applies and organize the submission. No result can be promised, and we do not handle litigation or court representation (outside the scope of an administrative scrivener).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many types of essential personnel are there?
Three: Executive, Senior Manager and Specialist.
May an executive directly perform service work?
The manual says an executive cannot directly perform the actual supply of services or work related to the organization’s services.
Is a team leader a senior manager?
Front-line supervisors whose subordinates are not professional service providers are not included as senior managers.
What is the specialist standard?
A person with highly specialized and exclusive experience and knowledge essential to research, design, technology or management of the services.
Do locally hired employees qualify?
Persons hired in Korea are excluded from D-8-1 essential personnel.
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Consultation
에이원 행정사사무소 (A-One Certified Administrative Agent) is an administrative office that supports document preparation and filing with the authorities. Fees vary by case and are explained during a consultation. Phone 02-309-3107 · Contact: https://investkorea.co.kr/en/contact