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| Getty Images Bank |
By Jung Da-hyun
Korea's demographic challenges, marked by the lowest birth rate in the world and an aging population, are fueling discussions on the need for more comprehensive immigration policies.
The National Assembly Research Service released, Monday, a report titled "Relationships with Foreigners in Korean Society: Exploring Directions of Immigration Policy."
In light of the increasing societal interest in immigration policies, the report aims to provide an overview of the status of foreigners residing in Korea and the need for a unified strategy on immigration.
As of December 2021, foreign nationals made up approximately 3.8 percent of Korea's population, totaling around 1.96 million residents, according to the report. Statistics Korea predicts the number to rise to 3.23 million, or 6.4 percent of the population, by 2040.
These statistics highlight the urgency for formulating an inclusive immigration policy.
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| Front page of the report, titled "Relationships with foreigners in Korean society: exploring directions of immigration policy", released on Monday by the National Assembly Research Service / Courtesy of National Assembly |
However, public sentiment on this issue remains mixed. Results from the World Values Survey (WVS) showed a complex perspective among Koreans towards immigrants, characterized by both an increased willingness to embrace immigrants and a simultaneous psychological resistance.
While 80.5 percent of Koreans believe immigrants should be welcomed, up from 71.9 percent in 2019, negative biases based on race and nationality also increased to 67.5 percent from 62 percent over the same period.
One of the key challenges in addressing immigration issues is the fragmented approach within the government.
Currently, different ministries handle different aspects of immigration. Labor-related immigration policies are overseen by the Ministry of Employment and Labor; the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy; and the Ministry of Justice, whereas multicultural-related issues are managed by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.
Experts attribute this fragmentation to a focus on economic solutions to demographic challenges. The policies often position migrant workers merely as a labor resource, while marriage-based immigrants are perceived as a fix for declining birth rates.
The report suggests first gaining an understanding of Korea's perspective on a society with immigrants and then developing a comprehensive policy for effective social integration.
In May 2022, Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon proposed establishing a dedicated immigration agency. A team was set up in November 2022 to improve the immigration system, but no concrete plans for the agency have yet been discussed.
