Ansan Mayor Lee Min-geun presents a proposal to then-Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon for establishing the Immigration Company in Ansan on Nov. 27, 2023. (Ansan Metropolis)
Situated southwest of Seoul in Gyeonggi Province, Ansan is notable for its cultural range.
As South Korea’s first deliberate industrial metropolis, it options massive complexes just like the Banwol Nationwide Industrial Advanced, which supply quite a few job alternatives and entice international staff.
With 14 p.c of its inhabitants originating from 118 nations, Ansan boasts the very best proportion of international residents within the nation, contributing to a culturally various neighborhood, in keeping with its Mayor Lee Min-geun.
Ansan Mayor Lee Min-geun (second from proper) explains the rationale for internet hosting the brand new immigration company at a citizen discussion board attended by 300 contributors on Nov. 14, 2023. (Ansan Metropolis)
Ansan has been vigorously campaigning to safe the institution of a brand new immigration company within the area. Lee emphasised Ansan’s distinctive traits, corresponding to its standing as a multicultural metropolis with a big international inhabitants and intensive help providers for them, highlighting that Ansan is the perfect location for the brand new company which is about to be a management tower of South Korea’s immigration coverage.
“Ansan is uniquely positioned to guide Korea’s immigration coverage. Residence to 101,850 international residents as of final 12 months, Ansan is on the forefront of revolutionary help for its multicultural inhabitants,” Lee mentioned.
With roughly 82 p.c of Wongok-dong’s residents being international nationals as of final 12 months, the realm has been designated as a particular multicultural zone by the town since 2009.
A International Resident Administration City was established in Wongok-dong, offering a
vary of providers together with Korean language schooling, interpretation help, counseling, medical and authorized providers, cultural and sports activities actions, in addition to schooling and employment counseling to international nationals nationwide. The ability served over 217,018 international nationals in 2022.
“As a consequence of this complete administrative help infrastructure, Ansan is thought to be the executive capital by many international nationals. Very like the home inhabitants gravitates towards the metropolitan space for higher jobs, administration, and cultural providers, international nationals are drawn to Ansan,” Lee mentioned.
Indonesian Embassy Cost d’Affaires Zelda Wulan Kartika (proper, sitting subsequent to Ansan Mayor Lee Min-geun) and embassy workers present help for Ansan’s marketing campaign to host the brand new immigration company on Jan. 31. (Ansan Metropolis)
Town additionally hosts the Ansan Multicultural Immigrant Plus Heart. This middle streamlines processes for residence and work permits, offering important providers to international residents. In 2022 alone, it assisted practically 48,697 guests. One other instance is its operation of the Ansan Multicultural Household Help Heart. Since 2008, this middle has supported 46,391 folks with packages designed to help each home and international residents.
“We lead in revolutionary coverage implementation, corresponding to being the primary to supply youngster care subsidies for international kids beginning 2018,” Lee famous, underscoring Ansan’s management in nationwide immigration coverage.
This dedication can also be evident within the metropolis’s funding in help infrastructure for international residents, in keeping with Lee. Final 12 months alone, Ansan independently allotted 13.4 billion gained ($10 million) to boost its immigration insurance policies and providers.
Lee mentioned the town’s dedication to fostering a multicultural society has gained worldwide recognition. :In 2020, the Council of Europe ranked Ansan fourth worldwide for cultural receptiveness, following Oslo, Copenhagen and Dublin.
Ansan Mayor Lee Min-geun (Ansan Metropolis)
Town is actively campaigning to determine a proposed new immigration company.
Ansan has reached out to 118 embassies throughout Korea, in search of cooperation and help. In November 2023, the town submitted an in depth proposal to the Ministry of Justice, outlining its strengths and plans to draw the immigration company.
Moreover, Ansan has introduced agreements with native universities to supply their websites and buildings as potential authorities services, demonstrating its readiness and strategic planning for the company’s integration.
Reflecting on current efforts, Lee described Ansan’s marketing campaign to host the immigration company as deeply rooted in neighborhood involvement.
“Residents are making voluntary efforts by participating outreach campaigns and internet hosting
festival-like occasions to draw the company,” he mentioned.
“Ansan’s complete international coverage infrastructure and huge expertise is not going to solely profit the brand new immigration company however can even catalyze better integration between home and international residents. Ansan is the optimum metropolis for the Immigration Company.”