What is it like to live as a foreigner in South Korea?

한국에서 외국인으로 사는 것은 어떠할까? 한국의 이민 현황 및 정책을 살펴보다

According to the OECD, a "multi-cultural society" is a country where more than 5 percent of its population consists of foreigners, second-generation immigrants, and naturalized citizens.
With more foreigners coming into South Korea every year, the country is soon expected to become a multi-cultural society.
Then, what's it like to live as a foreigner in South Korea?
Our Song Yoo-jin went out to find more.

Two million.
Accounting for almost 5 percent of the population, that's the number of foreign residents living in South Korea.
The figure had been steadily rising, but dropped during the pandemic.
Now, it's rebounding again and is expected to grow.

"In five years, the number of foreign residents will reach three million and in the long run, will make up 10 percent of the population.
Every year, South Korea's economically active population declines by 3-hundred to 5-hundred-thousand.
Attracting more foreigners will help solve this labor shortage and population decline."

But starting a new life in a brand new country isn't easy.
The biggest obstacles are language and social perception.

"I live in Dobong-gu and there a lot of people don't speak English."

"If I'm in the subway, all the people look at me like how she is a foreigner."

It's even harder if you're planning to stay long term.

"I've never seen a person who moved here because the Korean society is welcoming.
It's been really exclusive to foreigners as it has a long history of cultural, ethnic homogeneity."

"Then what kind of efforts are being made in South Korea to help foreign residents adapt to the country?

One of them is the justice ministry's Korea Immigration and Integration Program.
Designated institutions offer free classes to help foreigners become self-reliant members of society.

"The program has seven levels.
Korean language is taught from level zero to four and those who complete level four have no problem communicating in Korean.
Levels five and six teach Korean culture and society.
Students can apply for permanent residency after level five and naturalization after level six."

But there's still room for improvement.

"When I first came to Korea in the early 2000s, there were very few foreigners living here, so there were barely any relevant laws or policies.
It's been less than two decades since they started developing them, so right now, they're too complicated and all over the place."

To solve this, the government is pushing to launch an immigration agency.

"There's no single, designated body that's in charge of immigration and foreign resident-related affairs.
Installing an agency that's solely in charge will not only increase the efficiency of the immigration and visa process, but also help the country attract more foreign talent into the country."

With South Korea looking to become a more multi-cultural society, relevant efforts should be made to embrace and support those who come here.
Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

#foreigner #foreign_resident #Arirang_News

2022-07-27, 08:00 (KST)

[purpleglamour]

I think the start off would be the culture shock. This can be said about any foreigners going to another country.

[alexanderdantonio]

Omg no freaking bot comments
...yet. Hate those gd things 😒

[walkndriveexcitingseoulenj]

Really Welcome to my country, Seoul, South Korea ^^~ ♥ ~

If you come to Seoul, Korea, you will be able to enjoy another much more beautiful night view right in front of your eyes than the usual view of Namsan and Lotte Tower. In particular, if you go up to Eungbongsan Mountain and Geumho Mountain in Hawangsimni-dong,
Geumho-dong, just a few kilometers between Cheonggyecheon Stream and Seoul Forest Park, you can enjoy badminton (get off at shin-Geumho Station or take a taxi) and there are many beautiful and delicious foods. Also, if you walk slowly for about two hours
from the place called Dulle-gil starting from Maebongsan Mountain in Geumho Mountain, you can reach Namsan Mountain This place is very close to Gwangjang Market Jungang Market. It is close to Seongsu Bridge, Hannam Bridge and Dongho Bridge on the Han River.
Therefore, it is very close to Apgujeong Station on Gangnam Station. I hope you have a wonderful and beautiful trip to Seoul

The
two spectacular views of the Han River are located at the summit of Eungbongsan Mountain (81m high) and Maebongsan Mountain (95m high) in Seongdong-gu. What's even funnier is that the distance between the two is 3.1km by car and only 2.4km by foot



※ (All taxis take about the same distance and time as the basic fare, and everything below is on foot) From Myeong-dong => (Northeast direction) About 20 minutes from Gwangjang Market 1.5km, from Gwangjang Market => (Southeast direction) About 10 minutes to
Dongdaemun ddp 900m, from there (east direction) about 10 minutes to Jungang Market (Sindang-dong, Sangwangsimni Station) 900m, Jungang Market => (east direction) about 20 minutes to Wangsimni Market 1.5km, Wangsimni Market => (Southwest direction) to Jibu
Station About 30 minutes 2km, Maebongsan Park 30 minutes 1.7km, from Maebongsan Park (Southeast direction) to Seoul Forest Park 2.4km to Namsan Tower using 3. This road is the most beautiful 5km, (North direction) 3.4km to Cheonggyecheon Park, (West Direction)
Only 1.3km and 25 minutes to Namsan Dulle-gil, Itaewon Haebangchon

Night view


Four seasons view


From Seoul Forest to Maebongsan


☞
If you take a taxi, tell the driver,

1.
"Driver, please go to the octagonal pavilion observatory where you can see the Han River at the top of Eungbongsan (palgagjeong) Mountain in Eungbong-dong, Seongdong-gu "

(This
is Korean, but you can pronounce it in English)

KI SA NIM ! SEONG DONG GU EUNG BONG DONG EUNG BONG SAN HANGANG BO I NEUN PAL GAG JEONG JEON MANG DAE RO GA JU SE YO

기사님
성동구 응봉동 응봉산에 있는 한강이 보이는 팔각정 근처에 데려다 주세요

And
open this screen and show it to him


2.
"Driver, please go to the octagonal pavilion observatory where you can see the Han River at the top of Maebongsan (palgagjeong) Mountain in Oksu-dong, Seongdong-gu." "

(This
is Korean, but you can pronounce it in English)

KI SA NIM ! SEONG DONG GU OG SOO DONG MAE BONG SAN HANGANG BO I NEUN PAL GAG JEONG JEON MANG DAE RO GA JU SE YO

기사님
성동구 옥수동 매봉산에 있는 한강이 보이는 팔각정 근처에 데려다 주세요

And
open this screen and show it to him


☞ TIP to explain and promote the above places in detail







OR

[ollie]

Majority of foreigners that decide to live in Korea are from poor undeveloped countries thus will inevitably turn Korea into one. Look at Gimhae near Busan, a lot of foreigners from poor countries work in factories there and it's turning into a slum.