Professor Park haw-seo of Myongji University warned that Korean society should immediately address the problems of immigrants who have been seriously neglected to avert any trouble similar to what is currently happening in France. The professor pointed to some 100,000 irregular immigrants, mostly from Asia, as a potential source of tension and grievances towards Koreans. He also cited the case of children of foreign workers who are growing up isolated from Korean culture and who may also be potential sources of discontent with Korean society. There are about 480,000 foreigners registered in Korea, including some 129,000 Korean-Chinese, 80,000 Chinese, 27,900 Filipinos, 26,000 Vietnamese, 26,000 Indonesians, 22,000 Taiwanese and 21,000 Thais. In addition, there are about 29,000 registered aliens from the US and Canada and a small number from the Middle East, made up of 64 Jordanians, 30 Saudis and 32 Iraqis.
Foreign workers’ quota in 2006
According to Ku Kyeong Hoi, head of the Department for Foreign Laborer Recruitment, Korea has allocated some 12,000 jobs for Vietnam in 2005 and Korean employers hired 80 percent of Vietnamese applicants. This was reportedly the highest ratio among the six countries sending guest workers to Korea. Ku also said that a yearend review on the performance of the guest workers from the six labor sending countries would be conducted to determine the guest workers’ quotas for next year.
The Ministry of Information and Communication revealed that due to the lack of local qualified engineers many Korean firms have resorted to hiring Indian engineers. According to the ministry, more than half of all foreign engineers employed by Korean IT firms from 2002 to September this year were Indian nationals. During the same period, the Korean Information Technology Venture Association issued a total of 838 IT cards, including 435 to Indians, 94 to Vietnamese and 83 to Russians. The IT card is a recommendation issued by the association to foreign workers with at least five years experience in the field of information technology, which makes it easier for them to find employment in Korea.
A survey conducted by the Chunbuk Development Institute found that more than half of all foreign wives living in North Cholla Province live below the poverty line. They have an average monthly household income of 1.39 million won, which is much lower than the national average of 2.88 million won. However, many of those interviewed expressed satisfaction with their married life in Korea, with language barriers as their most common problem. The survey was conducted on 481 foreign wives of Korean men living in 14 cities and counties.
The Ministry of Justice said that it is currently considering the issuance of new employment visas to ethnic Koreans living in China and Russia. According to the ministry, the said visa would be valid for up to five years and would entitle its holder to work in the country for a maximum of two years without any limitations. However, there are no guarantees that the proposed visa system would eventually be approved, the ministry cautioned.
The South Korean government has organized a two-day international convention on the prevention of human trafficking at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in southern Seoul starting 14 November. The convention was held to discuss cooperation among various countries in tracking down those responsible for human trafficking and in seeking protection for the victims. Some 300 local and international experts from some 80 countries are expected to attend.
Sources: Chung Ah-young, “50 percent of foreign wives living in poverty," The Korea Times, 1 November 2005; Kim Cheong-won, “Ethnic Koreans to get work visa for 5 years," The Korea Times, 7 November 2005; Seo Ji-eun, Chang Chung-hoon, “IT companies get assistance from Indian engineers," Joong Ang Daily, 8 November 2005; Timely action in Korea can avert immigrant tensions," The Chosun Ilbo, 8 November 2005; S. Korea to decide foreign worker quota," Vietnam News, 10 November 2005; Kim Soe-jung, “Human trafficking meeting opens," Joong Ang Daily, 14 November 2005