Jeonnam Development Corporation Successfully Holds "Foreign Worker Housing Model Establishment Seminar"

Seeking Policy Directions for Establishing a Housing Model in Jeonnam Province

Jeonnam Development Corporation held a "Jeonnam-type Foreign Worker Housing Model Establishment Seminar" on the 12th at the Jeonnam Immigration and Foreigners Comprehensive Support Center together with Jeonnam Province. Photo by Jeonnam Development Corporation

Jeonnam Development Corporation held the "Jeonnam-type Foreign Worker Housing Model Establishment Seminar" on the 12th at the Jeonnam Immigration and Foreigners Comprehensive Support Center.

This seminar was co-hosted by Jeonnam Province, Jeonnam Development Corporation, and the Korea Housing Welfare Forum. It was organized to discuss the direction for developing a housing model tailored to the circumstances of the Jeonnam region, in response to the increasing number of foreign workers and their poor housing conditions.

Approximately 100 people attended the event, including Myung Changhwan, Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs of Jeonnam Province; Woo Seunghee, Mayor of Yeongam County; Jang Yongdong, Executive Director of the Korea Housing Welfare Forum; Son Namil and Shin Seungcheol, members of the Jeonnam Provincial Council; as well as officials from Jeonnam Province and its cities and counties, academia and research institutes, and representatives from foreigner support centers.

Currently, Jeonnam's dependence on foreign workers is steadily increasing, particularly in rural areas and industrial complexes. As of the end of 2024, the number of foreign workers is about 57,000, representing an increase of approximately 72% compared to 2020.

The seminar began with an assessment of the current status of foreign workers and their housing conditions, and highlighted the issue of housing vulnerability in rural areas as well as the need for policy responses.

Next, directions and implementation plans for developing a dedicated foreign worker housing model suitable for the conditions of the Jeonnam region were presented.

There were also proposals for establishing industry-specific support systems, the necessity of public-private cooperation models, and housing models that can encourage foreign workers to settle in the region.

Myung Changhwan, Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs of Jeonnam Province, stated, "Due to population outflow and aging, foreign workers have become indispensable to the region," and added, "We will spare no effort to support foreign workers so they can successfully settle as members of the local community."

Jang Chungmo, President of Jeonnam Development Corporation, emphasized, "Although the number of foreign workers increases every year, about 20% of unskilled foreign workers still live in non-residential facilities such as greenhouses or containers, resulting in extremely poor housing conditions. It is necessary to establish an effective housing model to include them as sustainable members of the local community."