foreigners used to improve birth rates
6/12/2007The Korea Association for Policy Analysis and Evaluation (한국정책학회) , acting in support of the elections commission, asked the seven major presidential candidates their views on proper policy for foreigners who wish to emigrate to Korea. They were asked first if and why they they look positively on foreigners immigrating to and settling in Korea, and then how broadly their rights should be secured.All seven of the candidates looked favorably on the immigration and naturalization of foreigners. They were divided only on the relative importance of certain rights.
The GNP’s Lee Myung-bak and 창조한국당’s Mun Kuk-hyeon both answered as the former CEOs they are by saying, “from the perspective of small and medium businesses that want to import the high-quality labor and specialists they need, I support it.” The two candidates both see a need for the country to bring in foreigners to boost the economy and “improve the birth rate problem.”
Chung Dong-young of 대통합민주신당 and Lee In-jae of 민주당 said they will provide a policy to boost the birth rate. Chung said, “that is already our country’s policy, so we must continue to carry it forward.” Lee said, “we should look positively on bringing in skilled foreigners as a way of dealing with the birth rate problem.”
The three remaining candidates believed a policy is needed to deal with the progress of foreigners. Lee Hoi-chang said that to “prepare a foundational policy for the 1 million foreigners” an government office for them should be established. Kwon Yeong-gil of 민노당 called for “a society free of discrimination against foreigners,” and Shim Dae-pyeong of 국민중심당 for “a policy on foreigners that prepares us for the age of globalization.”
The generally tended to be cautious, on the rights, particularly the political rights, of foreigners, but there were nuanced differences. Two of them took a negative view, as Chung Dong-young said, “there’s no way for foreigners to have political rights” while Mu Kuk-hyeon said, “it’s possible only after a national consensus has formed.” Lee Hoi-chang said, “they should have all constitutional rights other than to vote.”
Lee Myung-bak said, “local organizations should go first,” while Shim Dae-pyeong said, “first comes political party activity, then voting in local elections, then voting in national elections,” as both candidates spoke of rights being phased in.
Lee In-jae said, “naturalized citizens must have the right not to be discriminated against.” Gwon Yeong-gil said that he believes that, for foreigners, even more important than the right to vote is the right to be treated as a native and not discriminated against.
*emphasis is mine.
this is a hell of a thing to say … not only do politicians speak positively about foreign influence and rights, but also discrimination. i’m not exactly sure how much this will influence future policies, or whether they’re talking it up to improve their election chances … or even if they’re just trying to get foreigners on side. however, it’s definitely a positive mental step forward.
the article is quite funny though … especially when it comes to talking about how foreigners are a way of improving birth rates, by increasing the number of interracial marriages. it’s just funny how it’s worded … as if to say that foreigners will be introduced to inseminate women and make babies, like it’s a job.
if it does become a job, i’m first in line!!
