Photo : KBS News
South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party is pushing to raise the rank of the head of the Korea Immigration Service to the vice-minister level as the number of foreigners in the country approaches three million.
According to legal and parliamentary sources on Saturday, Democratic Party lawmaker Chai Hyun-il and other lawmakers proposed revisions to the Government Organization Act.
The proposed changes would require the head of the immigration office under the justice ministry to hold vice-ministerial rank.The bill also calls for the justice ministry to have two vice ministers.
In addition, the proposal seeks to separate the Korea Correctional Service from the ministry and establish it as an independent agency under the justice minister.
Chai said the growing scope and responsibility of immigration policy requires a higher level of expertise and faster policy response capabilities within the ministry.