Local gov’ts expand benefits for foreign residents
Local governments in Korea have expanded benefits for foreign nationals as part of efforts to attract them to live in their areas amid a population decline.
To help female teenagers aged between 11 and 18 of foreign nationality in 21 cities and counties purchase feminine hygiene products, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government began providing a voucher worth 13,000 won ($9.76) for them.
Last October, the provincial assembly made an amendment to the ordinance regarding the welfare policy to include foreign nationals. As a result, around 4,500 foreign residents are estimated to benefit from the policy.
Ansan in southwestern Gyeonggi Province, which boasts the largest number of foreign residents in the country, started to provide child care vouchers for multicultural families last year.
Children of foreign nationality aged up to 5 who have stayed in the city for more than 90 days and go to day care facilities there are subject to receive 1,000 won to 3,000 won per hour.
This year, some 1,300 children are expected to benefit from the policy every month, up from last year’s 1,200.
Notably, the North Chungcheong Province Office of Education decided to support kindergarten expenses for foreign children aged between 3 and 5.
The office expects around 290 people to benefit from the policy and receive 150,000 won or 350,000 won in support money, depending on whether they go to public or private institutes, respectively.
Meanwhile, Yeongam County in South Jeolla Province provided 600,000 won in local vouchers as support money for the first three months of settlement to 116 foreign nationals last month.
Also, several municipalities are offering help to support the settlement of foreign nationals.
The South Gyeongsang Provincial Government decided to hire interpreters for Vietnamese, Chinese, Mongolian, Cambodian, Nepalese and Filipino nationals at its foreign resident centers to help newcomers with labor issues, social integration, Korean language lessons and medical services.
The province plans to introduce 22,000 additional foreign workers this year, which will increase their number to 67,000 from 45,000 last year.
The North Gyeongsang Provincial Government also plans to operate a “K-dream foreign resident center” in Gumi and a special task force in every city and county to offer support from entry to settlement, especially regarding housing and cultural issues and their children’s education.
Incheon started running a global center last year to provide Korean language and culture classes and administrative counseling for foreign residents in the city’s free economic zone. Over 3,500 visitors received help from the center last year, according to the city.