Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, front row eighth from left, poses with participants including Seoul School of Integrated Sciences and Techologies President Moon Hwy-chang, sixth from left, Rep. Yoo Sang-beom, seventh from left, and Vice Minister of Justice Kim Seok-woo, seventh from right, during the forum at Seoul City Hall, Monday. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

As the number of foreign residents in Korea continues to rise and local governments promote initiatives to attract foreigners, the Seoul Metropolitan Government hosted a forum on foreign residents and immigration policy, Monday.

Experts and government officials emphasized the need for a more inclusive immigration policy, while some participants pointed to challenges in the current system, citing visa complexities and policy inconsistencies as significant barriers to foreign nationals trying to settle in Korea.

Under the theme of "For Enhancing National and Urban Competitiveness in a Multicultural Society," the forum aimed to address the nation's transition to a multicultural society and explore practical measures to attract and integrate foreign nationals.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon called for a shift from Korea's selective immigration system to a more inclusive approach.

Korea currently operates a complex visa system, with 37 categories and over 80 detailed types. While this system allows for efficient management and regulation from the government's perspective, it has become a significant obstacle for foreign nationals seeking long-term residency.

"The city government plans to work with other local and central authorities to expand local government autonomy in creating a more inclusive visa system tailored to the needs of different regions," Oh said.

Experts at the forum stressed the importance of attracting highly skilled foreign workers to ensure the city's future competitiveness.

Considering that OECD countries typically have an average foreign population of 15 percent, Seoul could see 1.5 million foreign residents in the coming years. The discussions centered around the need for a more flexible immigration policy.

'Visa reform is essential for foreigners settling in Korea'

Some voiced concerns over Korea's complex visa system and inconsistent policies, arguing that these hurdles limit the influx of foreign nationals and hinder long-term residency.

Ilya Belyakov, assistant professor of the humanities and social science at the University of Suwon, noted that most of the immigration policies discussed these days tend to focus on foreign workers, who are often excluded from the definition of immigrants because they typically stay only temporarily.

"Policies for immigrants and those for workers entering the labor market should be distinct," Belyakov told The Korea Times following the forum.

He stressed that if immigration policies are designed to counteract the shrinking workforce in an aging society, they should prioritize international students, who can act as temporary immigrants.

One major issue Belyakov pointed out is that international students face significant challenges entering the job market due to restrictive visa policies.

"It's almost impossible to switch from a D visa to an E visa. In my case, with a degree in Korean language and literature, my only option to stay and work was to become a Korean teacher, as other opportunities were not related to my field," he explained.

Belyakov called for more flexible visa options for international students, arguing that this would help Korea attract and retain global experts.

Colin Marshall, an American writer on cities and culture who has lived in Korea for 11 years, shared his personal challenges with the visa process, noting that it was more difficult than he initially expected.

"The visa categories are very specific, and if you're not in Korea for a particular job, the options are limited, and there's not much assistance available," he said.

Marshall also criticized the lack of clear objectives in Korea's efforts to attract foreign residents, cautioning that simply adopting immigration models from other countries may not be effective.

"Given Korea's circumstances, immigration policies must be tailored and reformed to suit the country's specific needs," he said.

He also emphasized the importance of helping immigrants integrate into Korean society, beyond merely filling labor gaps.

"If Korea wants to bring more people in, that's fine, but it's crucial to ensure they are individuals who can assimilate into the broader society," Marshall said, adding that language proficiency should be a key factor in the immigration process.

"Language skills should weigh more heavily than professional qualifications when determining who can stay in the country."