Korea draws inspiration from the immigration policies of France and Germany
Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon met with French Interior and Overseas Minister Gerald Darmanin in Paris.
The creation of a new central government agency to oversee Korea’s immigration policies seems to be gaining momentum following the return of Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon from Europe, where he studied the immigration policies of advanced countries.
Han met with key immigration leaders in France, Germany and the Netherlands during his trip two months ago.
Upon his return, the minister said in a statement that Europe’s business and political leaders attach great importance to immigration policies.
Han’s meetings with European leaders resulted in bilateral agreements with each country to forge closer ties to share immigration policies and data.
Arrangements were also made to set up a hotline for officials from the national immigration policy offices in each country.
“I’m confident that the recent summits will help us build a new immigration control tower and policies.” Mr Han said. “We will do our best to start. »
Han traveled to Paris to meet with the French Interior Minister, Mr. Gerald Darmanin. The Ministry oversees the General Directorate for Foreigners in France and the French Office for Immigration and Integration.
Han then traveled to the Netherlands, where he met Justice and Security Minister Dilan Yesilgoz Zegerius, who emigrated from Turkey as a child. The Ministry is responsible for the immigration and naturalization services.
In Germany, Han met with Rita Schwarzeluhr Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community. This ministry manages the Directorates-General M, H and V, which deal with immigration policy, as well as the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
According to Han, officials not only shared their departments’ strengths and successes, but also their failures and their causes.
His counterparts also shared how they persuaded citizens who spoke out against their country’s immigration policies.
“In particular, Minister Zegerius told me frankly how she came to the Netherlands as a child as a first-generation immigrant and became the country’s most important immigration politician,” Mr Han said. “This meeting was very meaningful for me.
Foreign leaders asked Ms. Han why Korea wanted to set up a new immigration policy checkpoint similar to hers, the Korean minister said.
Han replied: “There is no country in the world with a perfect immigration policy. There is also no country without a systematic immigration policy that could manage its own affairs. »
The countries where Han’s last visit took place all have problems with low birth rates and an aging society that Korea is currently experiencing. Part of the solutions these countries offered was to welcome immigrants through inclusive governance.
Since the beginning of the year, Mr. Han has been campaigning for the introduction of a new immigration control tower in Korea. This proposal was included in this year’s ministerial plan approved by President Yoon Suk Yeol.
