European Korean Associations Oppose Survey Results on 'Seoul as Suitable Location for Overseas Koreans Office'... "Lack of Credibility"

The European Korean Federation has opposed the Overseas Koreans Foundation's survey results, which announced that Seoul is suitable as the location for the Overseas Koreans Agency, scheduled to launch around June.

According to Incheon City on the 26th, the European Federation stated in a declaration delivered to the city on the 24th, "The Overseas Koreans Foundation's survey results lack credibility, and the overseas Korean community should not be divided through such surveys."

The European Federation explained, "The survey did not provide information about proposals or policies from each city competing to host the Overseas Koreans Agency," adding, "The survey was conducted by aggregating results by organizations and having representatives report numbers, failing to meet the basic requirements of a proper survey."

They continued, "It is necessary to examine what policies and future visions the cities aiming to host the Overseas Koreans Agency present to overseas Koreans," emphasizing, "Decisions should not be made based on the perception that the Overseas Koreans Agency is merely a department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or on administrative convenience, and the overseas Korean community must not be divided by such surveys."

The European Federation officially supported Incheon as the location for the Overseas Koreans Agency twice, in November last year and March this year.

President Yu Jehun of the European Korean Association (left) and Mayor Yoo Jung-bok of Incheon exchanging a memorandum of understanding. 2022.11.17 [Photo by Incheon City]

Earlier, the Overseas Koreans Foundation announced on the 23rd the results of a named opinion poll conducted on 2,467 heads of overseas Korean organizations such as Korean associations, Korean businesspeople (Hansang), and Korean language schools via social networking services (SNS) including KakaoTalk, WeChat, and LINE.

Among all respondents, 70% (1,736 people) chose Seoul, 14% (356 people) chose Incheon, and 10% (236 people) chose Gyeonggi Province.

In response, Incheon City rebutted, "The survey was conducted on only 2,467 people, which is just 0.03% of the 7.32 million overseas Koreans, without clear selection criteria, and was carried out over a short period of three days using only specific media, so its representativeness and credibility cannot be recognized."

The city also pointed out, "The European Korean Federation, which supports the establishment of the Overseas Koreans Agency in Incheon and includes Korean associations from 26 European countries and over 90 Korean associations, was excluded from the survey, resulting in the omission of many overseas Korean opinions supporting Incheon."