Integrated Settlement Support Expected through Counseling, Education, and Protection of Rights
Comprehensive Support System Reaching Industrial Complex, Agricultural, and Fisheries Workers
A view of the Jeonnam Immigrant Foreigners Comprehensive Support Center. Provided by Jeonnam Province
Jeonnam Province announced on February 28 that two centers were selected in the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s national funding competition for foreign worker support centers, establishing key bases for foreign workers’ local settlement in both the eastern and western regions.
As of December 31, 2025, Jeonnam had 65,698 registered foreigners, with workers accounting for 65% of this population, making it a region with a high proportion of foreign workers. There has been a constant need to build on-site, closely integrated support systems focused on initial settlement assistance and resolving grievances, especially in agricultural, fishing, and industrial complex areas.
Against this backdrop, Jeonnam Province’s persistent advocacy led to the resumption of the nationally funded project competition, which had been suspended since 2023. As a result, out of 10 centers nationwide, two were selected and will now operate as base institutions: the Eastern Immigrant Foreigners Comprehensive Support Center in Yeosu and the Western Immigrant Foreigners Support Center in Yeongam.
A total project budget of 1.25 billion won will be allocated, including 250 million won in national funds and 1 billion won from provincial funds, to strengthen support for foreign workers.
The core of the project lies in integrated settlement support such as counseling, education, and protection of rights and interests. Both the eastern and western centers will offer Korean language education, legal and labor counseling for daily life, industrial safety education, community support, and establish cooperation networks with relevant agencies. The project will also expand dedicated personnel, launch new programs for human rights and labor rights protection, and implement a data-based case management system to provide more tailored support.
Additionally, reflecting the regional characteristics of the eastern area, where there is a high proportion of non-professional employment (E-9) and seafarer employment (E-10) in fisheries, seafaring, and island/remote area work, the eastern center will operate a mobile on-site counseling service to address gaps in counseling and education services.
Yoon Yeonhwa, Director of Population, Youth, and Immigration Affairs of Jeonnam Province, stated, "Despite the challenging circumstances caused by the suspension of national funding in 2023, we established our own provincial initiatives and continuously advocated for the need for national funding to central government agencies. These efforts have resulted in the valuable achievement of securing base centers in both the eastern and western regions. We will build an effective settlement support model that leads the nation, enabling foreign workers to live and work in the region with confidence."
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