Korea Ranked 5th Worldwide in Racism Stigma... What About Anti-Immigration Sentiment? [Foreign Worker Cliff]

④ "Opposition to Oenolja"... Ranked 5th Among Countries with Severe Racism
"Foreigners Threaten Jobs" Resentment Spreads
Government Focuses Only on Expanding Oenolja Visa Quotas

On March 21st, 'International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination,' migrant human rights organizations protested demanding an end to discrimination. [Image source=Refugee Human Rights Center]

Editor's NoteIt has been 20 years since the Employment Permit System for foreign workers (hereafter referred to as foreign workers) began with the arrival of 92 Filipino workers in August 2004. As of the end of last year, the number of foreign workers reached 920,000, increasing ten thousandfold over the past two decades. Considering the need to fill labor shortages in 3D industries (difficult, dangerous, and dirty jobs) that domestic workers avoid, along with the accelerating trends of low birth rates and aging population, many more foreign workers will be needed in the future. However, foreign workers face visa barriers that lead to a vicious cycle of deportation before becoming skilled workers or remaining as undocumented immigrants. This contrasts sharply with neighboring countries like Japan, where population decline due to low birth rates has begun, and which actively lower immigration barriers to encourage foreign workers to settle. Although a competition among countries for foreign workers is expected, South Korea has yet to establish a control tower to oversee immigration policy, resulting in a rapid increase in undocumented immigrants. This article examines the current status of South Korea's foreign workers and immigration policies, along with desirable policy directions for sustainable growth and securing a working-age population.

A major obstacle to South Korea's foreign worker and immigration policies is anti-immigrant sentiment. South Korea ranks as the fifth most racially discriminatory country among major nations worldwide, indicating the severity of anti-immigrant attitudes. While voices are rising in some industries claiming that foreign workers threaten domestic jobs, the government focuses solely on expanding visa quotas for foreign workers. Meanwhile, budgets for support centers that help foreign workers settle and bridge cultural gaps have been cut.

"South Korea ranks 5th worst in racial discrimination"…Anti-immigrant sentiment deepens

In the 'World's Most Racist Countries' ranking released this month by the U.S. news weekly US News & World Report, South Korea ranked 5th out of 89 countries surveyed. This is a rise of four places from 9th last year, placing South Korea just behind Iran, Belarus, Bahrain, and Myanmar as one of the most racially discriminatory countries. This ranking is based on an annual survey conducted by US News & World Report, which polled 17,000 citizens worldwide. It reflects how foreign nationals perceive the level of racial discrimination in South Korea.

US News & World Report pointed out, "According to last year's U.S. State Department Human Rights Report, South Korea lacks childcare support for immigrant children and has social discrimination due to employment permit policies that limit immigrants' eligibility for permanent residency. There was also an incident where residents near a planned Islamic mosque site in Daegu hung pig heads and held a barbecue party."

This explanation cites the '2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices' released by the U.S. State Department in April. The report evaluated South Korea as a country where 'systemic racial or ethnic violence and discrimination' occur. It also stated, "Many migrant workers faced discrimination at work, and the visa duration under South Korea's Employment Permit System is set at 4 years and 10 months, shorter than the minimum 5 years required to apply for permanent residency. Civil society organizations argue that this policy was designed to exclude foreign workers from eligibility for permanent residency or citizenship."

Furthermore, "In March 2023, residents of Daegu protested against mosque construction by hanging pig heads and holding barbecue parties near the construction site. The Korean National Human Rights Commission also pointed out that such acts using pork are a form of hate expression that disparages Islamic culture," the report added.

Construction industry opposing foreign worker introduction…"Low-wage foreign labor threatens jobs"

[Image source=Jeonguk Plant Construction Labor Union]

Voices opposing the introduction of foreign workers are growing, especially in the construction sector where the proportion of foreign workers is increasing. The concern is that low-wage foreign labor threatens domestic workers' jobs. Opposition intensified when the government showed moves to introduce foreign workers in sectors previously restricted to domestic employment only.

The National Plant Construction Labor Union has maintained since February this year that it demands the government halt discussions on introducing foreign labor and is prepared to launch a general strike if their demands are not met.

Although the proportion of foreign workers has increased across the construction industry, the plant construction sector has traditionally allowed only domestic employment. Since 2007, foreign worker employment has been completely banned in this sector to protect domestic jobs and prevent technology leakage. However, as the industry reported a shortage of over 20,000 workers this year, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced it would consider allowing foreign labor employment, sparking strong opposition.

The industry argues that permitting employment of non-professional employment (E-9) visa holders and limiting foreign labor introduction to unskilled and simple labor jobs would prevent encroachment on domestic jobs and avoid technology leakage issues. However, the union strongly opposes this, claiming that the introduction of low-wage foreign workers would worsen labor conditions.

Focus only on expanding visa quotas…Foreign worker support center subsidies cut

Despite severe racial discrimination and anti-immigrant sentiment, government policy focuses on increasing the annual quota for E-9 visa holders under the Employment Permit System. This year, the E-9 visa quota increased by 45,000 from last year's 120,000 to 165,000, the largest since the system's introduction in 2004. In contrast, the budget for foreign worker support centers, which assist foreign workers' settlement and provide social integration program education, has been cut.

Since September last year, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced it would completely cut the 7.1 billion KRW budget for about 40 foreign worker support centers nationwide, including 9 regional hubs and 35 local centers. As a result, some hub centers were partially closed. Although 1.8 billion KRW was partially restored this year, it is still significantly lower compared to past budgets. Due to budget cuts, centers that previously operated with 10 to 18 staff members had to reduce personnel to about 6.

Even the foreign worker support centers that avoided closure are suffering from severe staff shortages. Kim Jae-up, director of the Incheon Foreign Worker Support Center, said, "Due to significant budget cuts starting this year caused by tax revenue shortfalls, we had to reduce personnel costs. Our center reduced staff from 13 to 6. Every Sunday, about 300 foreign workers come to attend social integration program classes, but we are struggling to manage due to lack of manpower."