New Year's Greetings in
2025
Lee
Sangdeok, Commissioner of the Overseas Koreans Agency
Dear Overseas Koreans,
As the Year of the Blue Snake, 2025,
dawns upon us, I’d like to extend my heartfelt greetings to all
overseas Koreans around the world.
Looking back, the Overseas Koreans
Agency has achieved meaningful milestones in 2024, thanks to the
unwavering support and interest of our seven million overseas Koreans.
We have laid institutional
foundations to better serve overseas Koreans, based on the diverse
voices from the field. We enacted and revised key policies,
including the Special Act on Assistance to Sakhalin Koreans, the
Enforcement Decree and Guidelines of the Emigration Act, and
Guidelines for Supporting Overseas Koreans in Distress. Furthermore,
we formulated the Comprehensive Strategy and Implementation Plan for
Overseas Koreans Policy.
We have enhanced the overseas
Koreans support system to be commensurate with our national status.
Throughout the year, we held numerous events to assist vulnerable
Koreans, including the permanent return and settlement support for
Sakhalin Koreans (including free legal services), the invitation
program for Goryeo-in to their motherland for a deeper understanding
of Korea, support for the settlement of children of Vietnamese
returnee women with Korean nationality, and aid for atomic-bomb
victims in Japan and Korean migrant workers (miners and nurses) in
Germany. We have also initiated a review of improvements of dual
nationality systems, and conducted a survey on the status of Korean
adoptees in the United States who have not acquired citizenship.
We have worked tirelessly to
enhance the accessibility and convenience of our services. We have
implemented on-site one-stop services and diversified our call
center channels to includeKakaoTalk consultations, web calls, web
chat. In addition, we have introduced an online identity
verification system and a digital consular service platform to
expand our one-stop and digital administrative services. We have
also established a branch of the Agency’s Service Center at Incheon
International Airport for greater accessibility.
We have also promoted various
programs to help the next generation of overseas Koreans develop a
strong sense of identity and pride in their Korean heritage. We have
significantly increased the funding for Korean language schools and
actively implemented programs to nurture the next generation of
overseas Koreans. Notable efforts include inviting overseas Korean
youth and university students to their home country, organizing the
Future Leaders’ Conference, and providing internship opportunities
for overseas Korean youth.
We have also continued our
efforts to improve for the livelihoods of our people by
strengthening the global Korean networks, supporting SMEs, and
expanding youth employment. We successfully hosted the World Korean
Community Leaders Convention to strengthen networks among Koreans
and fostered stronger ties between overseas Korean communities and
the home country. The World Korean Business Convention, held in
Jeonju, achieved remarkable outcomes, including 20,000 meetings for
export, US$630 million in consultations, and US$58 million in export
contracts. The Jeonju event in 2024 was particularly meaningful in
that it marked the beginning of full-scale cooperation and linkage
between overseas Korean business people and domestic SMEs.
Additionally, an internship program offering domestic youth the
opportunity to gain work experience at overseas Korean companies
proved to be popular.
Building on these achievements
and adapting to the changing policy environments, the Overseas
Koreans Agency is committed to pursuing more impactful overseas
Korean policies in 2025.
First, we will strive to
expand the overall capabilities of global Korean community. The
political influence of our overseas Koreans communities is steadily
rising, as evidenced by the election of 15 Korean Americans to
federal and state legislatures in the United States in 2024. We will
work to consolidate the capacity of these communities and strengthen
support for establishing a stable foundation and advancing into
mainstream society in the countries of residence for overseas
Koreans. In particular, we will actively explore ways to improve the
dual nationality system in close collaboration with related
government departments. This initiative aims to address the
challenges posed by low birthrates and an aging population in Korea,
while attracting global talent. We will develop various policies to
ensure that the capabilities and human resources of overseas Koreans
contribute to the betterment of the Republic of Korea.
Second, we will continue to
provide comprehensive and substantial support for returned Koreans.
As the number of returned Koreans increases, we will offer
customized support to help them successfully settle and become
valuable assets, contributing to the Korean society. At the same
time, we will continue to make strenuous efforts to foster a more
positive and inclusive perception of them among our citizens.
Third, we will pursue overseas
Korean policies that contribute to the livelihood of people in
Korea. In line with the government's efforts to improve the
livelihood of people, we will promote investments by overseas Korean
businesses in Korea, expand linkages between Korean businesses and
domestic SMEs, and encourage overseas employment opportunities for
domestic youth. The World Korean Business Convention, set to take
place in Atlanta, USA, in April this year, will be carried out in
holding onto such awareness and goals.
Fourth, we will solidify our
support for fostering the identity of overseas Koreans and
strengthening the global Korean community. We will increase support
for various activities promoted by the overseas Koreans communities,
including Korean language schools and Korean community
organizations. Additionally we will host annual events such as the
World Korean Community Leaders Convention, the World Korean Business
Convention, the Global Korean Politicians Forum, the Future Leaders’
Conference, the Overseas Korean Adoptees Gathering, and the
OKFriends Homecoming Teens & Youth Camp. These events will be
designed to foster the strong sense of identity among overseas
Koreans and deepen their ties with the homeland.
In the Year of 2025, the
Overseas Koreans Agency remains committed to listening to your
valuable advice and working alongside you every step of the way.
I sincerely hope that the Year of the
Blue Snake brings happiness to all of you and that all your wishes
come true.
Happy New Year!
January 1, 2025
Lee Sangdeok
Commissioner, Overseas Koreans Agency
