○ Gyeonggi Province holds first meeting of Korea’s first Refugee Support Policy Advisory Committee run by a local government
– Discussed policy directions, support standards, and related matters for refugees living in Gyeonggi Province
– Legal experts, academicians, field specialists, and refugees joined the review on ways to help refugees settle smoothly in local communities

Gyeonggi Province held the first meeting of the Gyeonggi Province Refugee Support Policy Advisory Committee on June 18 at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Northern Complex in Uijeongbu. The meeting covered future committee operations and policy directions.

As the first deliberative and advisory body of its kind formed by a local government, the Gyeonggi Province Refugee Support Policy Advisory Committee was established to review refugee-related policies more systematically and prepare ways for refugees to settle smoothly in local communities.

Ten members serve on the committee, including Director General Kim Won-kyu of Gyeonggi Province’s Immigration Society Bureau as an ex officio member. Other members include Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly members, legal and academic experts, relevant agencies, civil society and field specialists, migrants, and refugees. The committee will deliberate and advise on matters including the establishment, revision, evaluation, and improvement of basic plans, feasibility of refugee support projects, operation of refugee support facilities, and criteria for identifying people in refugee-like circumstances.

The first part of the event featured an appointment ceremony. The first committee meeting followed, with members electing a chair and a vice chair, discussing the background of the committee’s establishment, and reviewing future operations and policy directions.

As of 2025, 16,408 of the 46,786 refugees in Korea live in Gyeonggi Province. This accounts for 35.1% of the national total, the highest share among metropolitan and provincial governments. Within Gyeonggi Province, large numbers of refugees live in cities such as Ansan, Pyeongtaek, Hwaseong, and Pocheon.

“If refugees face social isolation or poverty, the situation may lead to broader instability and conflict in local communities. Reasonable policy support is needed to prevent conflict in advance and strengthen community cohesion,” said Kim Won-kyu, Director General of Gyeonggi Province’s Immigration Society Bureau, adding, “Based on voices from the field and expert opinions, we will continue discussing policy directions that residents can support.”