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In a major overhaul of its immigration framework, the Korean government is rapidly tearing down long-standing bureaucratic divides to offer permanent settlement pathways for hundreds of thousands of ethnic Koreans returning to their ancestral homeland.
According to government figures released Wednesday, more than 54 percent of ethnic Koreans holding short-term H-2 visiting employment visas have successfully transitioned to the status of F-4 overseas Koreans within just six months of a reform implemented in February. The total number of H-2 visa holders dropped from 81,447 in mid-February to 31,186 by the end of July, signaling a swift embrace of long-term residency rights.
The shift marks a decisive turn in Korea’s approach to diaspora integration.
Historically, ethnic Koreans tracing their roots to former Soviet states (Koryoin) or northeastern China (Joseonjok) faced rigid administrative hurdles compared to those holding passport status from Western nations or developed economies. While some received broad rights as overseas compatriots, others were funneled into restrictive, short-term work visas that treated them primarily as temporary labor.
