Gyeonggi-do and Bank of Korea to Hold 'Policy Council on Support Measures for Foreigners' on the 2nd

On the 2nd, Gyeonggi Province held a policy consultation meeting on the theme of ‘Changes in the Foreign Population Composition and Support Measures’ at the Gwanggyo Provincial Government Office in Suwon, jointly with the Bank of Korea Gyeonggi Headquarters.

The consultation meeting was organized to discuss policy response measures to structural changes such as the increase and aging of foreign residents and the expansion of single-person households, and to strengthen cooperation with related organizations.

The policy consultation meeting marked its fourth session this year as part of a joint policy project promoted under the ‘Gyeonggi Province-Bank of Korea Gyeonggi Headquarters Business Agreement’ signed in 2022.

Attendees at the meeting included Jeong Du-seok, Director of the Gyeonggi Province Economic Office; Jang Jeong-seok, Head of the Bank of Korea Gyeonggi Headquarters; Kim Won-gyu, Director of the Gyeonggi Province Immigration and Society Bureau; Professor Shin Seon-ho of Ajou University; Kim Do-won, Associate Research Fellow at the Immigration Policy Research Institute; Oh Kyung-seok, Director of the Gyeonggi Foreigners’ Human Rights Support Center; Kim Hyung-woo, Deputy Manager of the Korea Federation of SMEs; and Choi Hae-yeon, Specialist of Ansan City, among other experts from academia, industry, and research sectors, who shared their opinions.

Gyeonggi Province held a policy consultation meeting with the Bank of Korea Gyeonggi Headquarters on the 2nd. Photo by Gyeonggi Province

According to the report titled ‘Dynamic Analysis of Changes in the Composition of Foreign Residents in Gyeonggi Province’ published by the Bank of Korea Gyeonggi Headquarters in January this year, foreign residents in the province show prominent trends of aging, increase in single-person households, and employment instability, indicating the need to establish related foreigner policies.

Kim Hyung-woo, Deputy Manager of the Korea Federation of SMEs, said, "SMEs cited communication problems, frequent turnover requests, and high employment costs as difficulties related to foreign workers," adding, "To resolve the manpower shortage in SMEs, it is necessary to strengthen foreign language and cultural education and diversify the conversion of residence status for skilled workers."

Jeong Du-seok, Director of the Gyeonggi Province Economic Office, stated, "Foreign residents should be viewed not simply as ‘visitors’ but as ‘members of the local community,’ and effective policies for the stable settlement and social integration of foreign residents are urgently needed," and added, "Based on today’s discussions, we will enhance the effectiveness and field applicability of Gyeonggi Province’s foreigner policies."

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, among the 2,459,542 foreign residents nationwide, Gyeonggi Province has 809,801 (32.9%), ranking first in the country. Reflecting this reality, Gyeonggi Province established the Immigration and Society Bureau last year to implement foreigner policies related to housing, education, welfare, jobs, and cultural coexistence in immigrant society.

This year, for the first time among local governments nationwide, Gyeonggi Province will conduct the ‘Immigrant Social Integration Survey’ to identify the actual conditions of immigrants residing in the province and establish customized social integration policies.