Over 44,000 ethnic Korean laborers secure long-term visas as gov't speeds up integration
In a major overhaul of its immigration framework, the Korean government is rapidly tearing down long-standing bureaucratic divides to offer permanent settlement pathways for hundreds of thousands of ethnic Koreans returning to their ancestral homeland. According to government figures released Wednesday, more than 54 percent of ethnic Koreans holding short-term H-2 visiting employment visas have…
The Korean government has introduced significant changes to its immigration policies, enabling over 44,000 ethnic Korean laborers to secure long-term visas and expedite their integration into the country. According to the Korea Times, a substantial majority—more than 54 percent—of those holding short-term H-2 visas have successfully shifted to F-4 status, the latter granting permanent settlement rights, within a mere six months of the reform initiated in February.
This transformation is reflected in the decrease of H-2 visa holders from 81,447 in mid-February to 31,186 by the end of July, underscoring the rapid adoption of long-term residency rights. Historically, ethnic Koreans from former Soviet states or northeastern China have encountered more stringent bureaucratic obstacles compared to their Western counterparts, with varying degrees of rights accorded.
However, this policy shift signifies a notable departure from past practices, offering a more inclusive framework for diaspora integration in Korea.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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