Results 1 to 11 of 11
  1. #1
    Thailand Expat misskit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Chiang Mai
    Posts
    47,989

    Proposed changes to S.Korea citizenship law face anti-China headwinds

    SEOUL (Reuters): South Korea is trying to increase its future working population by making it easier for children of foreign residents to become citizens, but its plans have run into trouble in the face of rising anti-China sentiment.


    A measure proposed by the Ministry of Justice - first made public in April - called for easing the pathway to citizenship for children born to long-term foreign residents, by simply notifying the ministry.


    A presidential petition opposing the revision has gathered over 300, 000 signatures. The chatroom of an online hearing held to discuss the proposal in May was overwhelmed with expletive-laced complaints by the tens of thousands of viewers.


    The justice ministry has said it is still taking into account public opinion and the advice of experts before submitting the proposal to the Ministry of Government Legislation.

    "Given the strong backlash, I would say the ministry has already lost much of the momentum to push ahead with the proposal," said Jang Yun-mi, an attorney who specializes in issues related to children.


    The controversy highlights the challenges South Korea faces as it seeks to ensure a robust future population in the face of declining birthrates and rapidly aging workers, and the potential policy implications of increasingly negative views of China, its biggest trading partner.


    Data from last year suggests only about 3, 930 people would be eligible under the rule change, but the fact that 3, 725 of them were of Chinese heritage prompted much of the criticism.


    South Korean views have been coloured by what some see as economic bullying by Beijing, its poor handling of the COVID-19 crisis, and the assertion by some Chinese that dearly held aspects of Korean food and culture, such as kimchi and the traditional hanbok dress, have roots in China.


    Among immigrant communities, the proposed measures are not seen as worth the backlash, said Kim Yong-phil, editor-in-chief of E Korea World, a local newspaper for Chinese-Koreans.


    "Anti-Chinese people could use this issue as a pretext to attack Chinese-Koreans," he said.


    Naturalisation was rare in South Korea until the early 2000s - just 33 foreigners gained South Korean citizenship in 2000, for example - but rose to nearly 14, 000 last year, immigration data show.


    Of them, nearly 58% were from China, and 30% from Vietnam. The rest included people from Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Japan, Korea Immigration Service data showed.


    The latest proposal is needed to encourage future workers to stay by allowing them to foster a South Korean identity from an early age and stably get assimilated into society, the justice ministry told Reuters in a statement.


    Kim Yong-seon, who came from China in 2004 to study and was naturalised in 2014, said the amendment is useful as it provides more options for immigrants, but that the more pressing matter is making it easier for adults to become citizens.


    "Over the past few years, the requirements for permanent residency and citizenship have only gotten harder," he said, citing changes that require high amounts of income or assets.


    Like the majority of Chinese nationals residing in South Korea, Kim is ethnic Korean - his grandfather migrated to China a century ago.


    More than 70% of the 865, 000 Chinese nationals residing in South Korea are of Korean descent, according to immigration data.


    Negative views of China among South Koreans have hit historic highs recently, with as much as 75% having an unfavourable opinion of them late last year, compared to around 37% in 2015, according to Pew Research.


    "Some Chinese people are already committing a 'cultural fraud' against the whole world by making unreasonable claims that kimchi and hanbok are also Chinese," opposition People's Party chairman Ahn Cheol-soo said.


    "If left as is, it will lead to a 'cultural invasion' in which they claim that even Korea's priceless culture is theirs."


    Proposed changes to S.Korea citizenship law face anti-China headwinds | The Star

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat russellsimpson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Last Online
    14-03-2024 @ 06:17 PM
    Location
    vancouver
    Posts
    1,785
    The Star appears to be a mainly Punjabi paper published in Surrey B.C. So I'm not sure what that's all about. Primarily an advertising rag.

    But be that as it may.

    As a general comment I am always amused by this grand concern especially among the world's most advanced countries of running out of 'working populations', that is people during the necessary jobs to meet the countries needs, current and future. How are these needs calculated I ask? Canada somehow needs 400,000 immigrants a year to meet current and future needs. This is a discussion for another thread which I may start concurrent to this. I spent three years living and working in Seoul and enjoyed the country and it's citizens not that much indeed. A very secular bunch prone to extreme xenophobia and secularism, certainly not my cup of tea. The women are quite gorgeous, very few fat hogs sauntering around like one finds in many western countries, the USA being the prime example. Moving along,




    Quote Originally Posted by misskit View Post
    The controversy highlights the challenges South Korea faces as it seeks to ensure a robust future population in the face of declining birthrates and rapidly aging workers, and the potential policy implications of increasingly negative views of China, its biggest trading partner.
    Like I said, I wonder who performs these calculation? How many new workers of child bearing age will be required in Korea in say fourty years. This is obviously going to be an inexact science, I frankly have no idea where one would start with the calculation. My view is that the world has to slow down on many fronts, consumption being one . Maybe we won't need as many hands as some would like to suggest.



    Quote Originally Posted by misskit View Post
    More than 70% of the 865, 000 Chinese nationals residing in South Korea are of Korean descent, according to immigration data.
    This is an important statistic.



    Quote Originally Posted by misskit View Post
    "Some Chinese people are already committing a 'cultural fraud' against the whole world by making unreasonable claims that kimchi and hanbok are also Chinese," opposition People's Party chairman Ahn Cheol-soo said.


    This is really what it seems to be all about, kimchi and hanbok for goodness sake.



    Quote Originally Posted by misskit View Post
    "If left as is, it will lead to a 'cultural invasion' in which they claim that even Korea's priceless culture is theirs."
    Yes indeed. Have a valium or three sir.

    Silliness really. I wish them all good fortune in working things out. Over and out.
    A true diplomat is a person who can tell you to go to hell in such a manner that you will be asking for directions.

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat Saint Willy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Last Online
    30-04-2022 @ 02:44 AM
    Posts
    11,204
    Claims the calculation is wrong.

    Then states he has no idea.

    how does that work?

    ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
    Quote Originally Posted by russellsimpson View Post
    I frankly have no idea where one would start with the calculation. M

  4. #4
    Thailand Expat russellsimpson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Last Online
    14-03-2024 @ 06:17 PM
    Location
    vancouver
    Posts
    1,785
    the forum for posting news events from all over the world, ie America, Australia, Africa, Europe and any where else that isn't in Asia.
    Robust discussion is allowed, but posters should stay on topic and refrain from personal attacks.


    Quote Originally Posted by TheRealKW View Post
    Claims the calculation is wrong.

    Then states he has no idea.

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    96,541
    Quote Originally Posted by russellsimpson View Post
    the forum for posting news events from all over the world, ie America, Australia, Africa, Europe and any where else that isn't in Asia.
    Robust discussion is allowed, but posters should stay on topic and refrain from personal attacks.


    Writes another shit post.

    Whinges loudly when someone points it out.

    No-one likes a grass, RB.

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat russellsimpson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Last Online
    14-03-2024 @ 06:17 PM
    Location
    vancouver
    Posts
    1,785
    Who's RB ? Enquiring minds and all.

    I didn't think the post was half bad.

  7. #7
    Thailand Expat
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    38,456
    I believe SKorea has changed a lot in the last 25 years or so- from being probably the most xenophobic country in the world to merely one of the most xenophobic in Asia.

  8. #8
    Member
    Grumpy John's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2020
    Last Online
    18-09-2021 @ 09:07 AM
    Location
    Phitsanulok
    Posts
    379
    Their worker shortage has been going on for a while. My wifes Aunty Nu organised labour in this area to go over to work in an electronics factory. My wife went twice for 5 years in total. There are farmers from around here who have worked in South Korea for years. Know of 2 who are there now.

  9. #9
    Thailand Expat
    panama hat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Last Online
    21-10-2023 @ 08:08 AM
    Location
    Way, Way South of the border now - thank God!
    Posts
    32,680
    Quote Originally Posted by Grumpy John View Post
    Their worker shortage has been going on for a while. My wifes Aunty Nu organised labour in this area to go over to work in an electronics factory. My wife went twice for 5 years in total. There are farmers from around here who have worked in South Korea for years. Know of 2 who are there now.
    That is relevant to citizenship possibility . . . how?

  10. #10

  11. #11
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    96,541
    Quote Originally Posted by russellsimpson View Post
    Who's RB ? Enquiring minds and all.

    I didn't think the post was half bad.

    * Resident Bore

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •