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The government's ambitious plan to establish a new migrant-related government agency is stalling as the immigration policy committee ― despite its reorganization last year for the agency launch ― has not held a meeting for nearly a year.

According to a report submitted by the Ministry of Justice to Rep. Park Yong-jin of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), the immigration policy committee has not convened a single meeting since its initial appointment ceremony on Nov. 25, 2022.

The initiative to establish an immigration agency, a key promise of President Yoon Seok Yeol, gained traction after Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon mentioned it in his inaugural speech on May 17, 2022.

As Korea's immigrant population steadily expands ― at 2.24 million as of 2022, or 4.37 percent of the total population ― the need for an immigration agency has become apparent.

As part of plans to establish the agency, the justice ministry decided to expand and reorganize its immigration policy committee, hoping that it would play a key role in setting the direction of immigration policy and shaping relevant laws.

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon answers a question during Wednesday's parliamentary inspection of his ministry at the National Assembly in Seoul. Yonhap

The ministry had intended to unveil the roadmap for the agency's establishment earlier this year. However, a year and five months have passed since the discussions, and the direction of the agency's establishment remains unknown.

Consequently, an absence of detailed organizational planning for the agency has resulted in the deprivation of the budget allocation for next year. Key aspects related to the agency's establishment, such as the office location and personnel increase, were not outlined in the 2023 and 2024 budgets.

Rep. Park criticized the lack of transparency regarding the collection of opinions on the issue, even though the establishment of the immigration agency has been highlighted as a crucial reform.

Seol Dong-hoon, a professor at the Department of Sociology at Jeonbuk National University, and current president of the Korean Sociological Association, emphasized the necessity of the immigration agency in Korea.

"Pursuing national and public interests by discussing immigration sizes and specific policies for each type at a more comprehensive and systematic level is the key," he said.

"Neighboring countries including Japan, China and Taiwan have established such agencies. Korea should also implement a system that encourages foreigners to see the country as an attractive place to reside," he added.

Meanwhile, the justice minister stated that establishing the immigration agency remains a top priority, adding that he is preparing a bill to lay the grounds for establishment within this parliamentary session, during the parliamentary inspection of the administration, Wednesday.