The Korean government this year will boost efforts to attract foreign talent and achieve social integration. A total of 964 projects have been outlined, with a budget of 370.6 billion won. The announcement was made by the Prime Minister’s Office on January 27, after a state panel meeting was held to review and finalize this year’s policies for foreign residents.
Highly skilled migrant workers will be granted E-7 or F-2 visas, which will allow them to be employed for an indefinite period of time and to gain permanent resident status. In addition, the government will increase subsidies for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that experience difficulties in finding and employing highly qualified foreigners.
To provide better aid to foreign residents and improve the public’s understanding of multiculturalism, the government will operate programs that would help dispel discriminatory stereotypes against foreigners as well as increase the number of educational programs for children from multicultural familes. The government also plans to raise the number of institutions running social integration programs, from the current 150 to 400.
* Source : 『Monthly Economic Bulletin』 Vol.34 No.2
(Ministry of Strategy and Finance and Korea Development Institute)
