[South Korea] Citizens becoming ‘more receptive’ to migrant workers

More than 50 per cent of South Koreans consider migrant workers a necessary force in a nation that faces declining birth rates and a growing elderly population, UCA News reports.

57.3 per cent of Koreans view migrant workers as “necessary,” according to data from a survey of 1,000 people by the Asia Center of Seoul National University. Korea Joongang Daily reported its findings on January 16.

Only around 37.3 per cent of the respondents reportedly objected to the need for migrant workers in the country at all.

Yoon In-jin - a professor of sociology at Korea University - said that nations like South Korea are moving towards attracting more skilled migrant labourers to compensate for the lack of workforce in their regions.

“[Countries] are moving to secure essential manpower to work in industries that locals are reluctant to work in, and to attract high-skilled professionals and international students to engage in knowledge-based industries,” Professor Yoon told Korea Joongang Daily.

The professor cited cases in nations such as Korea, Japan, China, and Australia which are moving towards bringing in an increased number of migrant labourers through various attractive visa processes.

President Yoon Suk Yeol’s administration has introduced several changes to its work visa policy to accept more foreign workers in the country, since September 2022.

The Employment and Labor Ministry reportedly raised the quota of E-9 visas for non-professional employment for 2023 from 59,000 to 69,000.

Professor Yoon says that the cultural differences and the socio-economic conditions within the country were a prime concern, with the government seeking to ensure migrant labourers and native Koreans find ways to live in harmony.

“It is becoming more important for the country to find ways for people of different cultural backgrounds to live harmoniously together,” Yoon said.

The survey also reportedly included questions related to the effects of migrant labourers on societal harmony and employability in the nation.

49.6 per cent of survey respondents rejected the possibility of social unrest as a result of the increased number of migrant labourers, while 43.1 per cent agreed with the statement.

When asked about the reduction in the employability of Korean citizens due to migrant labourers, 53.9 per cent rejected the possibility. 40.4 per cent reportedly believed that Koreans may face difficulty in getting jobs.

World Bank data reveals that the unemployment rate in South Korea dropped to 3.6 per cent in 2021 as compared to 3.9 per cent in 2020.

According to the Korean National Statistical Office, the number of migrant labourers in the country in 2022 was 843,000, compared to about 900,000 between 2015-2016. The decline is attributed to the pandemic.

South Korea reportedly faces an unprecedented drop in live births along with an increasingly ageing population.

The latest data from the Statistical Office shows South Korea recorded the lowest of 20,658 live births in October 2022, dropping by 0.4 per cent in comparison to 20,749 births in October 2021.

The agency reported the population of South Korea at 51.74 million in October 2021; a decrease of 0.2 per cent (91,000 people) from 2020.

The proportion of the population aged 65 and above in the country is expected to rise from 17.5 per cent in 2022 to 46.4 per cent in 2070, according to agency predictions.

Source: UCA News

(Quotes via original reporting)

More than 50 per cent of South Koreans consider migrant workers a necessary force in a nation that faces declining birth rates and a growing elderly population, UCA News reports.

57.3 per cent of Koreans view migrant workers as “necessary,” according to data from a survey of 1,000 people by the Asia Center of Seoul National University. Korea Joongang Daily reported its findings on January 16.

Only around 37.3 per cent of the respondents reportedly objected to the need for migrant workers in the country at all.

Yoon In-jin - a professor of sociology at Korea University - said that nations like South Korea are moving towards attracting more skilled migrant labourers to compensate for the lack of workforce in their regions.

“[Countries] are moving to secure essential manpower to work in industries that locals are reluctant to work in, and to attract high-skilled professionals and international students to engage in knowledge-based industries,” Professor Yoon told Korea Joongang Daily.

The professor cited cases in nations such as Korea, Japan, China, and Australia which are moving towards bringing in an increased number of migrant labourers through various attractive visa processes.

President Yoon Suk Yeol’s administration has introduced several changes to its work visa policy to accept more foreign workers in the country, since September 2022.

The Employment and Labor Ministry reportedly raised the quota of E-9 visas for non-professional employment for 2023 from 59,000 to 69,000.

Professor Yoon says that the cultural differences and the socio-economic conditions within the country were a prime concern, with the government seeking to ensure migrant labourers and native Koreans find ways to live in harmony.

“It is becoming more important for the country to find ways for people of different cultural backgrounds to live harmoniously together,” Yoon said.

The survey also reportedly included questions related to the effects of migrant labourers on societal harmony and employability in the nation.

49.6 per cent of survey respondents rejected the possibility of social unrest as a result of the increased number of migrant labourers, while 43.1 per cent agreed with the statement.

When asked about the reduction in the employability of Korean citizens due to migrant labourers, 53.9 per cent rejected the possibility. 40.4 per cent reportedly believed that Koreans may face difficulty in getting jobs.

World Bank data reveals that the unemployment rate in South Korea dropped to 3.6 per cent in 2021 as compared to 3.9 per cent in 2020.

According to the Korean National Statistical Office, the number of migrant labourers in the country in 2022 was 843,000, compared to about 900,000 between 2015-2016. The decline is attributed to the pandemic.

South Korea reportedly faces an unprecedented drop in live births along with an increasingly ageing population.

The latest data from the Statistical Office shows South Korea recorded the lowest of 20,658 live births in October 2022, dropping by 0.4 per cent in comparison to 20,749 births in October 2021.

The agency reported the population of South Korea at 51.74 million in October 2021; a decrease of 0.2 per cent (91,000 people) from 2020.

The proportion of the population aged 65 and above in the country is expected to rise from 17.5 per cent in 2022 to 46.4 per cent in 2070, according to agency predictions.

Source: UCA News

(Quotes via original reporting)