The Justice Party promised to establish a government organization dedicated to immigrants and to enact an immigration bill as the party’s campaign pledge in the April 15 parliamentary elections.

On February 19, Justice Party leader Sim Sang-jeung said, “There are 2.5 million immigrants residing in South Korea, and they account for 4.9% (of the total population). Despite that there are various types of immigrants in South Korea, legal and institutional support for them are extremely lacking,” and promised to support immigrants. The party expressed its determination to support immigrants and to prepare for a multicultural society, following the recruitment of former lawmaker Lee Jasmine.

Sim said, “We will begin the transition to a post-migrant society, where the rights of immigrants are respected based on the UN Global Compact for Migration,” and presented the establishment of an agency overseeing immigrant matters and the enactment of an immigration bill as campaign pledges in the upcoming election. Sim said, “We will establish a special committee for the transition to a post-migrant society in the National Assembly, and establish a government agency dedicated to immigrants.” She also said, “We will enact an immigration bill that will set the principles and standards for the qualification and condition for stay in the country, protection, rights and state support for immigrants and provide the legal foundation for our society’s shift to a post-migrant society.”

The party also announced measures for a paradigm shift in immigration policies concerning international marriages as well as measures to support the independence of the immigrant spouses. The party leader said, “When it comes to those who immigrated to South Korea upon marriage, 47.6% earn a monthly income of 1-2 million won on average,” and added, “We will design a lifecycle policy to meet the characteristics of immigrants through international marriages.”

The party also proposed to revise the Multicultural Families Support Act to protect the rights of immigrant women, as well as to expand support for children from multicultural families.

The Justice Party also presented pledges on refugees and overseas Koreans. Sim said, “We were the first in Asia to enact a Refugee Act in 2012, but the bill’s effectiveness is very insignificant,” and further said, “We will clearly define refugees as victims of human right infringement and ensure that the refugee screening process respects their rights.” The party also promised to enact a framework act and to establish a government office for Koreans overseas.