World Immigration News

(Korea JoongAng Daily)Preparing for the 3 million foreign resident era (KOR)

Release Date: 2026-08-04
Media: Korea JoongAng Daily
Summary: South Korea's foreign resident population reached 2.91 million in July and is expected to exceed 3 million by the end of the year. Immigrants have become essential to addressing labor shortages in sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and fisheries, while the number of students from immigrant backgrounds continues to grow. However, public acceptance has not kept pace with these demographic changes, creating challenges for social integration.

The author argues that Korea should learn from Western countries that experienced social conflict due to inadequate integration policies. Strengthening the governance of immigration, expanding Korean-language education, and creating a dedicated immigration fund financed by visa and nationality application fees are presented as key priorities.

The article also calls for treating immigration as a long-term national growth strategy rather than simply a labor or welfare issue. It recommends reforming the visa system, improving coordination across government agencies, and introducing a system to forecast and manage immigration by visa category.

The author concludes that the debate is no longer about whether Korea should accept immigrants, but about what kind of people to admit, how to integrate them effectively, and how to manage immigration in a way that supports both economic growth and social cohesion.
Tags: Korea

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