The Korea Times

Rights advocates warn of rising anti-immigrant politics

Is ultranationalism gaining ground in Korean politics? Human rights advocates are growing increasingly concerned following a political feat by a once-fringe figure earlier this month. Lee Kang-san, 35, of the Liberty Unification Party — a hard-right minor party with no seats in the National Assembly — garnered more than 32 percent of the vote in the April 2 by-election for the top post at the Guro District Office in Seoul. One of his central pledges was to deport what he referred to as “all the illegal aliens.” In his official campaign brochure sent to voters, Lee emphasized that his top policy priority would be putting “citizens first.” “If I get elected, I will prioritize solving the problem of illegal immigrants. Guro District is home to more than 50,000 foreigners, and the issue of public security has been rising due to illegal immigrants,” he said. “As the head of the district, I would collaborate with police and immigration officers to deport them. I would also apply AI technology to security cameras to analyze behavior patterns and movements to effectively detect

Apr 10, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Rights advocates warn of rising anti-immigrant politics

Global Community

Foreign residents pick Gwanghwamun as Seoul's most iconic landmark: survey

Gwanghwamun — a public square that serves as the main gateway to Gyeongbok Palace and a hub of cultural and political life in Seoul — has been chosen as the city’s most iconic landmark by foreign residents, according to a survey released Wednesday. In the 2024 Seoul Survey, 48.4 percent of 2,500 foreign residents chose Gwanghwamun as the city’s most iconic landmark. It was followed by traditional palaces (36.8 percent), the Han River (23.8 percent), Dongdaemun Design Plaza (23.5 percent) and Seoul Plaza (20.6 percent). Asked to select the most symbolic color of Seoul in a multiple-choice question, 50.9 percent chose blue over pink (39 percent) and white (36.2 percent). Meanwhile, the overall happiness index among foreign residents ― measured based on their health, financial conditions and relationship with other people, among other factors ― increased to 7.19 points from 6.83 points the previous year. By country, the average score among U.S. citizens was the highest at 7.97 points. The survey also shows that their health condition has improved, with 72.7 percent saying it was

Apr 9, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Foreign residents pick Gwanghwamun as Seoul's most iconic landmark: survey

Global Community

Political activity by foreign nationals turns focus on existing law

Can foreigners be deported for participating in political activities here? Article 17 of Korea’s Immigration Act states, “No alien staying in the Republic of Korea shall engage in any political activity unless otherwise permitted by this Act or other Acts,” and, if anyone is caught violating the law, “the Minister of Justice may order the alien in writing to suspend such activity or may issue other necessary orders” such as a deportation order. However, it turns out that the ban on political activity by noncitizens in Korea has never been enforced, according to the Ministry of Justice — at least not yet. “No foreigners have been ordered to be deported or to stop interfering (in political matters in Korea),” its representative said in a response sent to The Korea Times on Monday. Since the introduction of the article, last revised in 2010, it has been used by both domestic right-wing and left-wing activists as a tool to instill fear in foreigners about the potential consequences of expressing political opinions that differ from their own. During the martial law and impeachm

Apr 8, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Political activity by foreign nationals turns focus on existing law

Global Community

New visa system aims to rejuvenate local industries, schools

Local authorities aim to rejuvenate their industries and schools by attracting foreign workers and students under a new visa system introduced to fit their needs. The Ministry of Justice approved a proposal by the Busan city government last week to allow 1,000 additional foreign students over the next two years to study semiconductors, electric vehicle batteries and other areas related to “car parts of future” at colleges and universities in Busan. Previously, those who wished to apply for student visas in the city were required to demonstrate their financial capacity ― a bank statement showing at least 16 million won ($11,000). Under the new system, that condition has been eased to 8 million won. Moreover, students who majored in one of these areas will be allowed to work as interns during their final semester, such as the fourth semester for two-year college students. City officials aim to help students find employment in key industries that they consider vital for the future of Busan's economy. Last year, city officials designated Busan's Gijang and Gangseo districts ― a total

Apr 8, 2025By Jung Min-ho

New visa system aims to rejuvenate local industries, schools

Politics

Election looms after Yoon’s ouster

The Constitutional Court’s decision on Friday to formally impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law imposition has left Korea without an elected leader as the government faces major challenges at home and abroad. Attention now turns to who will fill that top post, with a snap presidential election to be held within 60 days under the law. The political development comes after the court upheld the National Assembly’s impeachment motion against Yoon in a ruling that found his martial law imposition failed to meet both substantial and procedural requirements. The date for the election has not yet been decided, but acting President Han Duck-soo is expected to designate the date during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday. It is most likely to be held on June 3, exactly 60 days after Yoon’s ouster was finalized. Amid this tight schedule, the country's major rival parties — Yoon's conservative People Power Party (PPP) and the more liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) — are expected to launch election preparations this week, setting up respective election committees that

Apr 6, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Politics

Presidential election to be held within 2 months

Following the Constitutional Court’s verdict that ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol from office on Friday, the nation has been left in search of a new leader. By law, the next presidential election must be held within 60 days to fill the vacant post. Acting President Han Duck-soo is required to announce the date within 10 days. According to the National Election Commission, the voting date can be set between May 24 and June 3. Given that the 2017 presidential election was held exactly 60 days after the ousting of former President Park Geun-hye, June 3 is likely to be the voting day. The acting president said he will ensure the stable management of state affairs while preparing for the upcoming presidential election. On Friday, he spoke with Roh Tae-ak, chairman of the election commission, by phone regarding the matter. Parties that wish to participate in the election must determine and register their candidates by May 11, a day before the official campaign period launches. Those currently serving as local office chiefs have to resign by May 4 if they want to join the race. There is little

Apr 4, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Presidential election to be held within 2 months

Global Community

EXCLUSIVE Fewer than 50 foreigners applied to nanny program: source

Fewer than 50 applications have been submitted for Korea’s new foreign nanny program for Seoul residents, amid worries that a lack of applicants could derail the project before it even begins, according to a source who has direct knowledge of the matter. Speaking to The Korea Times on Thursday, the source said the number so far was much lower than expected. EasyTask, a platform service company partnered with the Seoul Metropolitan Government for the scheme, began accepting applications on March 24. Under the experimental program initiated by the city government and the Ministry of Justice, holders of one of the following visas — D-2, D-10-1, F-3 and F-1-5 — can apply for permission to work as domestic workers, babysitters or both, with the nation's minimum wage system not being applied. More than 82,000 foreign residents here are eligible to apply, according to the ministry. But apparently, a lack of enthusiasm raises questions about the program’s feasibility. “If enough applications are not collected, there should be a discussion between the justice ministry and the city gover

Apr 3, 2025By Jung Min-ho

[EXCLUSIVE] Fewer than 50 foreigners applied to nanny program: source

Activists condemn new foreign nanny program as ‘abusive, discriminatory’

Global Community

Activists condemn new foreign nanny program as ‘abusive, discriminatory’

Human rights groups are condemning a new foreign nanny program launched last week by the central government and Seoul, urging officials to scrap what they call an “abusive” and “discriminatory” policy toward foreign workers. Speaking to journalists near Seoul City Hall on Wednesday, representatives from 32 organizations argued that the program's primary goal is to create a supply of cheap labor, thereby exploiting domestic workers. They also warned that the policy could drive down wages for Korean workers over time by lowering overall working conditions. This comes after the announcement by the Seoul Metropolitan Government that holders of one of the four visas ― D-2, D-10-1, F-3 and F-1-5 ― can apply for permission via outsourcing service firm EasyTask to be employed as domestic workers, babysitters or both. For service users, it will be a more affordable version of a similar government-run program through which parents living in the city could hire Filipino caregivers. However, unlike the Filipinos, workers participating in the new project will not be subject to the Labor

Apr 2, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Activists condemn new foreign nanny program as ‘abusive, discriminatory’

More affordable foreign nanny program launched in Seoul

Global Community

Immigrants in Korea less happy, more worried than native-born residents: report

Immigrants in Korea are less happy and more worried about their future than native-born residents, according to a recent study. A report from the Korea Institute of Public Administration, a government-sponsored research institute, showed that only 55.7 percent of immigrants reported being happy, compared to 82.6 percent of native-born residents. It is unclear whether these sentiments indicate a deterioration or improvement, as this is the institute's first survey of its kind. Asked whether they were worried about their future, 39.5 percent of immigrants said they were, while 23.9 percent of native-born residents gave the same response. This study was conducted for two months beginning Aug. 1, 2024, to estimate how immigrants of four subgroups ― naturalized citizens, permanent residents (F-5 visa), migrant spouses (F-6) and Korean descent visa holders (F-4) ― view their lives here in terms of social integration. The rate of dissatisfaction and anxiety was especially high among migrant spouses, it showed. According to the report, 38.4 percent of immigrants perceive their financial situat

Apr 2, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Immigrants in Korea less happy, more worried than native-born residents: report

Environment & Animals

Bill drafted to toughen penalties for causing wildfires

Lawmakers proposed a bill on Monday to strengthen penalties for individuals who cause wildfires, after out-of-control blazes scorched more than 48,000 hectares of woodland and killed dozens of people in the worst wildfire disaster in the country’s history. Rep. Suh Cheon-ho and 11 other lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party drafted a bill to increase the minimum prison sentence for individuals responsible for starting a fire in privately owned forests, raising it from five years to seven. The bill also aims to raise the minimum prison sentence for those who accidentally start a fire in someone else’s forest or jeopardize public safety by causing a fire on their own land, increasing the sentence from three years to five. This comes after a wildfire disaster that resulted in 30 deaths, 45 injuries and widespread damage to thousands of properties, including around 3,300 houses, in North Gyeongsang Province. Investigators are looking into several suspects connected to the incidents that happened in multiple locations. One of them is a 56-year-old man suspected of starting a fire i

Mar 31, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Jung Min-ho

Read more

Rights advocates warn of rising anti-immigrant politics

Foreign residents pick Gwanghwamun as Seoul's most iconic landmark: survey

Political activity by foreign nationals turns focus on existing law

New visa system aims to rejuvenate local industries, schools

Election looms after Yoon’s ouster

Presidential election to be held within 2 months

EXCLUSIVE Fewer than 50 foreigners applied to nanny program: source

Activists condemn new foreign nanny program as ‘abusive, discriminatory’

Immigrants in Korea less happy, more worried than native-born residents: report

Bill drafted to toughen penalties for causing wildfires

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