If Gyeonggi Province succeeds in hosting the immigration and naturalization service agency (hereinafter “immigration office”), the estimated economic impact would be up to about KRW 1 trillion won and 4,000 jobs created.

Gyeonggi Province, through the Gyeonggi Research Institute, undertook a three-month study from November last year on the feasibility as well as economic and social effects of attracting the immigration office to Gyeonggi Province and announced the results on March 24.

According to the analysis, the economic impact of hosting the immigration office in Gyeonggi Province would be between KRW 182.1 billion and KRW 515.2 billion in output, KRW 219 billion and KRW 353 billion in value added, and 1,477 to 4,198 people employed, depending on the type of facilities. The greatest impact is anticipated if the center is established as a control tower that encompasses all migration-related functions.

The report also determined that Gyeonggi Province has several advantages over other regions in attracting the immigration office.

Gyeonggi Province is home to the nation’s largest foreign-born population, about 660,000 as of December 2023, making it a natural test bed for various immigration policies, the report said.

In addition, the provincial government said that Gyeonggi is a strong candidate for hosting the immigration office due to several factors: its transportation infrastructure, including Incheon International Airport, Incheon Port, and Gimpo International Airport; high work efficiency due to its proximity to the Ministry of Justice, other ministries, and the presidential office; the presence of the largest number of immigration and foreigner-related organizations among local governments; and high policy acceptance among local residents due to its ongoing multicultural city policies.

A total of six cities in Gyeonggi Province have announced their intention to vie for the immigration office: Ansan City, Gimpo City, Goyang City, Hwaseong City, Gwangmyeong City, and Dongducheon City. According to the characteristics of each city and county, various attraction activities are being pursued, such as forming special organizations, holding discussions, and submitting proposals to the Ministry of Justice.

To attract the immigration office, each region is promoting its unique characteristics and growth potential: Ansan City has designated a special zone for multicultural villages and established a support center for foreign residents; Gimpo City has the potential to develop into an international city and offers amenities and housing; Goyang City has an extensive transportation network and urban infrastructure; Hwaseong City has the potential to grow as a location for large and high-tech companies; Gwangmyeong City has access to transportation such as the KTX and is located at the center of a dense foreign population; and Dongducheon City has a multicultural environment as an area with unreturned U.S. military facilities.

“Gyeonggi Province has a high concentration of permanent foreign residents as well as short-term rotational foreign workers and seasonal workers, so it can serve as a testing ground for various immigration policies through the establishment of an immigration office… We will actively promote the establishment of an immigration office in Gyeonggi Province by holding discussions to build consensus among Gyeonggi residents and making recommendations to the central government,” said Kum Chul-wan, Director General of the Labor Bureau of Gyeonggi Province.

Meanwhile, on March 7, the Mayors Association of Gyeonggi Province submitted a “Joint Request for the Establishment of an Immigration and Naturalization Service Agency in Gyeonggi Province” to the Office of the President, the Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Ministry of Justice.