Proposal to Elevate Immigration Bureau Chief to Vice-Ministerial Level

A plan is being pursued to raise the rank of the head of the Ministry of Justice's Immigration and Foreign Policy Bureau from the current first-grade civil servant level to vice-ministerial level, in response to the increase in foreign policy-related tasks.

A bill proposed by lawmaker Chae Hyun-il of the Democratic Party of Korea includes provisions to allow the Ministry of Justice to have two vice-ministers and to establish the Correction Bureau under the ministry as an independent 'Correction Agency.' Chae pointed to the expanded scope and increased responsibilities of immigration and foreign policy tasks, stating that the main purpose of the bill is to strengthen response capabilities, considering the reality of nearly 3 million foreign residents in the country.

Countries in the region, such as Japan, China, and Taiwan, are increasingly promoting their immigration authority chiefs to vice-ministerial ranks. Concerns have been raised that the South Korean Immigration and Foreign Policy Bureau chief, currently a first-grade civil servant, faces limitations in performing their duties. A Ministry of Justice official explained that upgrading only the rank of the Immigration and Foreign Policy Bureau chief, without establishing a separate external agency, is a realistic alternative that can secure both organizational efficiency and policy responsiveness.