Gyeongbuk Province Launches Nation's First 'Immigration Policy Committee'... 24 Experts Seek Solutions to Regional Disappearance

Gyeongsangbuk-do will hold the inaugural ceremony of the 'Gyeongsangbuk-do Immigration Policy Committee' at 2 p.m. on the 15th at the Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Government Office to lead region-driven immigration policies.

The Gyeongsangbuk-do Immigration Policy Committee is an advisory body that provides policy consultation, strategy formulation, and supports communication with immigrants for the immigration policies promoted by Gyeongsangbuk-do.

Gyeongbuk Provincial Government

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The committee consists of 24 top domestic experts on foreign and immigration policy, including Lee Chulwoo, professor at Yonsei University, and Lee Hyekyung, professor at Paichai University, who have been appointed as co-chairs.

The inaugural ceremony will be attended by about 100 people, including international students, foreign workers, marriage migrant women, officials from foreign policy-related institutions, and city and county officials. The event will proceed with the awarding of appointment letters, a report on the basic plan for Gyeongsangbuk-do's immigration policy, and a policy discussion.

The launch of the 'Gyeongsangbuk-do Immigration Policy Committee' is a follow-up measure to the basic plan for Gyeongsangbuk-do's immigration policy announced by the province in April.

To overcome population decline and the risk of regional extinction, Gyeongsangbuk-do is pursuing a two-track strategy of a 'war against low birth rates' and a 'Gyeongsangbuk-do-style immigration policy.' With the establishment of this committee, the province plans to seek new solutions for its immigration policy.

Gyeongsangbuk-do has established the 'Foreign Community Division,' a dedicated department for foreign affairs to promote various immigration policies, and has actively supported the early settlement of foreigners through administrative services such as a region-specific visa system and the Hope Connection Project, the nation's first initiative linking foreign employment.

In addition, the province is promoting leading projects for foreigners, such as the establishment of the K-Dream Foreign Support Center, a comprehensive platform that manages the entire process from entry to settlement and social integration, and the opening of the Gyeongbuk Global School.

With the formulation of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Immigration Policy Basic Plan, which supports foreigners at every stage from entry to settlement, the province has become the first among metropolitan governments nationwide to mark a major turning point where foreigner support policies are rapidly evolving into immigration policies.

Starting in the second half of this year, Gyeongsangbuk-do will fully implement its immigration policy by providing full childcare subsidies for children of foreigners, launching educational package programs for international students to support employment, and building the K-Dream Worknet system for foreign job seekers and employers.

With the operation of the 'Gyeongsangbuk-do Immigration Policy Committee,' it is expected that the region will grow and a variety of immigration policies fostering coexistence between migrants and residents will be developed, enabling Gyeongsangbuk-do's immigration policy to lead and transform the national immigration policy framework.

Lee Cheolwoo, Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do, stated, "The realization of the 'K-Dream' for foreigners visiting Gyeongsangbuk-do will usher in a new era that both foreigners and residents can look forward to and dream about. Together with the Immigration Policy Committee, we will create a grand transformation toward the global open society that Gyeongsangbuk-do aspires to."

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