Immigration To South Korea - Government Agencies

Government Agencies

Immigration policy is overseen by the Ministry of Justice through the Korea Immigration Service. Related ministries include: Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Nationality act, Immigration Control Act, Multicultural Families Support Act, and Framework Act on Treatment of Foreigners are the foundation of immigration policy in Korea. Korean government initiated a discussion whether to establish independent Immigration Office to accommodate fast growing immigration and to prepare inclusive and rational immigration policies, from 2003, without many progresses. Currently, Foreigner Policy Committee which is headed by the Prime Minister is coordinating foreigner related policies which were handled by many ministries. However, its role is limited because of the short of resources and manpower. Establishment of an Immigration Office is expected to solve these problems by concentrating all the related resources and manpower under one umbrella. According to the UN Recommendations on Statistics of International Migration (revised in 1998), long-term international immigration is recorded after an individual enters a country and establishes his usual place of residence there for one year or more. So, When Korea government build new policies, immigrant laborers and children of illegal migrants should be counted to follow this guideline. The Republic of Korea is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. The Korean Government is thus the competent authority to determine refugee status in Korea.