North Jeolla chosen as testing ground for innovative immigration policies

The Justice Ministry and the North Jeolla government signed an agreement on Monday to cooperate on foreign and immigration policies.

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, left, and North Jeolla Govenor Kim Kwan-young celebrates an agreement on cooperating on innovative immigration policies on Monday at the local government's office in Jeonju. [NORTH JEOLLA GOVERNMENT]

Immigration policies are set to undergo a significant trial run in the North Jeolla province, marking a pioneering collaboration between the central government and local administration.

The Justice Ministry and the North Jeolla government signed an agreement on Monday to cooperate on foreign and immigration policies.

The agreement encompasses various initiatives, including the issuance of visas and the provision of essential support to attract foreigners, students and workers, with a focus on helping them integrate into the local society.

The two entities will also work together to deliver Korean language education, information services and consultancy.

They will also embark on collaborative surveys and research on foreign residents within the province to enhance the living conditions and tackle assimilation-related issues.

North Jeolla earlier this year secured the largest allocation of 400 slots for the Justice Ministry's new F-2-R visa.

The visa allows individuals on short-term visas to extend their stay for up to five years, provided they live or work in regions grappled with declining populations for a specified duration.

This visa category also permits them to bring their spouses and children.

Governor Kim Kwan-young's first proposed the cooperation in January.

“In my first meeting with President Yoon Suk Yeol in July last year, a week after I assumed office, I asked for the allocation of 180,000 visas, equivalent to 10 percent of the province’s 1.8 million residents,” Kim said. “In exchange, I told him the North Jeolla government will work with the Justice Minister to devise immigration policies tailored to North Jeolla.”

“President Yoon endorsed the proposal and asked me to work with Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon,” Kim added. North Jeolla is not the only local government pushing for more proactive immigration policies.

With foreign workers increasingly flocking to Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon, exacerbating labor shortages, other regions, like the North Gyeongsang province, have also requested the easing of regulations for hiring foreign workers.

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon discusses with migrant workers at a straberry farm in Wanju county on Monday. [YONHAP]

In response to these calls for action, the Justice Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry have jointly announced a plan to extend the E-8 visa for seasonal workers, increasing their authorized stay from five to eight months.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]