S. Korea aims to become more friendly to foreign residents

By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Yonhap) -- Sweeping measures will be implemented beginning next
year aimed at making life easier for long-term foreign residents in South Korea,
the prime minister's office said Thursday.
Foreign residents who live far from district immigration offices will find it
easier to apply for visas, report departures or handle other custom affairs via
an expanded "immigration field service."
The service, in which immigration officials visit foreigners living in remote
regions, will be expanded to two to three times a week from the current one time
per week.
Twice as many foreigners are expected to befit from the expanded service, the
prime minister's office said. Last year, over 54,400 cases were handled via the
field service system.
The government also plans to ease regulations on stock-buying for foreigners and
foreign companies.
Under current rules, foreigners must designate a South Korean citizen as an agent
in order to become a major shareholder of local insurance companies. That
regulation will be abolished.
English-speaking foreign residents will also find it easier to use public
transportation as buses, subways and trains will print and announce more stops in
English beginning next year.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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