Ihn Yo-han, chairman of the innovation committee of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), speaks during an interview with The Hankook Ilbo, a sister paper of The Korea Times, at the party's headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Joo-yeon

Flexible and transparent immigration policies are keys to the successful integration of migrants, according to Ihn Yo-han, chairman of the innovation committee of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), as Korea seeks to become more open to immigrants amid a labor shortage and low growth.

Korea is actively inviting foreign nationals – mostly from Southeast Asian countries – to fill its manpower void mainly in the agriculture, fishing and construction sectors. But at the same time, the nation is struggling to address an increasing number of foreign laborers who seek to change their workplaces or overstay their visas.

"We need flexibility in immigration policies. And regarding the issue of whom to accept or not accept, the process should be transparent," Ihn said during an interview with The Korea Times, Thursday.

He cited the current Employment Permit System, under which foreign workers cannot change their workplaces or job sectors freely.

"For instance, in the case of foreign fishermen, they may run away (because of hard work) and become undocumented. Instead we should tell them that if you work on the boat for a year or two, you can change your work permit (to another category)."

The 64-year-old doctor, who comes from an American family with a long history of contributions to Korea, became the first special naturalized Korean in 2012. He is the great-grandson of American Southern Presbyterian missionary Eugene Bell, who was dispatched to Korea in 1895.

Ihn said he is an expert on immigration policies, given his background.

He also said the government should do more to support children of migrants to assist their full integration into Korean society. As important as it is to make sure they learn Korean language and culture, the government should consider introducing affirmative action policies to open more opportunities for them, he said.

Ihn was appointed as the conservative party's innovation committee chairman in October and is tasked with overhauling the party as it gears up for the upcoming general elections slated for April next year.

He will lead the committee until Dec. 24, during which time it will offer various proposals that will lay the groundwork for the party's nomination rules for the elections.

When asked about his thoughts regarding the rules on choosing the party's candidates, Ihn called for the increased participation of women, saying that they are still poorly represented in Korea's labor force, business world and political realm.

"I personally think that women should be more involved. Korea has the poorest score among the OECD countries when it comes to gender equality issues. Women CEOs are paid less (than men). That's ridiculous," he said.

Korea ranks at the top among members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) when it comes to the difference between the median full-time earnings of men and women, which stood at 31.1 percent as of 2021. This means that women earned 31.1 percent less than men on average. The OECD average, in comparison, is 11.9 percent.

The country ranked 99th among 146 countries in the 16th Global Gender Gap Report announced by the World Economic Forum last year. The report, which assesses overall gender disparity across politics, work, health and education, is an index used to gauge gender equality.

Such a view is reflected in Ihn's pick of his committee members. The 13-member innovation committee, launched on Oct. 26, consists of seven women and six men, including Ihn.

Ihn Yo-han, chairman of the innovation committee of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), attends a meeting at the party's headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

Bumpy road ahead

Upon being appointed as the committee chairman, Ihn said the PPP should "change everything except their wives and children," citing a famous remark by late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee.

But reforming the conservative party has turned out to be a daunting task so far.

The first proposal by the committee made last week to offer "grand amnesty" to disgraced PPP members – the party's former Chairman Lee Jun-seok and Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo – stirred controversy both inside and outside the party.

Both rejected the proposal, with Hong saying that he has already parted ways with the PPP leadership.

The party leadership sided with Ihn. It approved the committee's proposal on Thursday, lifting the membership suspension imposed on Lee and Hong.

Ihn said the reactions from Lee and Hong were not surprising.

"Of course, there can be a backlash. That's understable. But we should continue to try to reconcile with them. Our top priority is unity and prosperity, which cannot be achieved overnight. There's a long way to go," he said.

On Saturday, Ihn went to Busan where Lee held a talk session with the public. He visited the event without an appointment to meet Lee. But the face-to-face meeting failed to materialize due to the former party chairman's chilly reception.

Ihn has also faced backlash from some PPP lawmakers after he called for party heavyweights to leave their traditional stronghold, or the Gyeongsang provinces, and run in opposition-dominated areas in Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province.

"It is time for politicians to make a sacrifice for the nation, but they don't seem to be willing to give up vested interests," he said. "But as I've said earlier, everything should change. And I hope my party will lead that change."

Ihn said he is ready to face more criticism if that's what it takes for a successful reform of the party, saying that the next two months will be the most important period in his life.

A day after the interview, the innovation committee strongly urged the party's leadership and PPP lawmakers who are known to be close confidants of President Yoon Suk Yeol to run in Seoul and its surrounding areas in the upcoming general elections, or give up their reelection bids.

But the committee did not announce the request in the form of an official proposal, saying that the issue is still under internal discussion. The committee introduced a set of new proposals, such as reducing the number of Assembly members by 10 percent and renouncing parliamentary immunity from arrest.