[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The Ministry of Justice has decided to temporarily suspend social adaptation education programs for foreigners to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia). This is a precautionary measure due to concerns about the participation of trainees who have recently stayed in or traveled to China.
On the 29th, the Ministry of Justice stated, "Since yesterday, we have temporarily suspended the social integration program and early adaptation program, which are domestic life adaptation education programs for foreigners," adding, "This decision was made based on the judgment that these group education programs could become a source of secondary infection of the novel coronavirus."
The Ministry of Justice's social adaptation programs are educational programs designed to help foreigners legally residing in Korea and naturalized citizens acquire the basic knowledge necessary to adapt to society. As of the end of December last year, 56,535 people participated annually in the social integration program, including marriage immigrants and foreign nationals of Korean descent, and 51,354 people participated in the early adaptation program.
The Ministry of Justice also took measures to allow foreigners to register without completing the early adaptation program temporarily, considering cases where foreign entertainers attempt to register as foreigners or foreign nationals of Korean descent attempt to register as foreigners under the visit employment (H-2) visa status, for which completion of the early adaptation program is mandatory.
A Ministry of Justice official said, "We will do our best to resume the program operation as soon as the novel coronavirus infection subsides to ensure that foreigners residing in Korea do not experience inconvenience in adapting to life in the country."
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