New Year's Greetings in 2025
Lee Sangdeok, Commissioner of the Overseas Koreans Agency
Dear Overseas Koreans,
As the Year of the Blue Snake, 2025, dawns upon us, I’d like to extend my heartfelt greetings to all overseas Koreans around the world.
Looking back, the Overseas Koreans Agency has achieved meaningful milestones in 2024, thanks to the unwavering support and interest of our seven million overseas Koreans.
We have laid institutional foundations to better serve overseas Koreans, based on the diverse voices from the field. We enacted and revised key policies, including the Special Act on Assistance to Sakhalin Koreans, the Enforcement Decree and Guidelines of the Emigration Act, and Guidelines for Supporting Overseas Koreans in Distress. Furthermore, we formulated the Comprehensive Strategy and Implementation Plan for Overseas Koreans Policy.
We have enhanced the overseas Koreans support system to be commensurate with our national status. Throughout the year, we held numerous events to assist vulnerable Koreans, including the permanent return and settlement support for Sakhalin Koreans (including free legal services), the invitation program for Goryeo-in to their motherland for a deeper understanding of Korea, support for the settlement of children of Vietnamese returnee women with Korean nationality, and aid for atomic-bomb victims in Japan and Korean migrant workers (miners and nurses) in Germany. We have also initiated a review of improvements of dual nationality systems, and conducted a survey on the status of Korean adoptees in the United States who have not acquired citizenship.
We have worked tirelessly to enhance the accessibility and convenience of our services. We have implemented on-site one-stop services and diversified our call center channels to include KakaoTalk consultations, web calls, web chat. In addition, we have introduced an online identity verification system and a digital consular service platform to expand our one-stop and digital administrative services. We have also established a branch of the Agency’s Service Center at Incheon International Airport for greater accessibility.
We have also promoted various programs to help the next generation of overseas Koreans develop a strong sense of identity and pride in their Korean heritage. We have significantly increased the funding for Korean language schools and actively implemented programs to nurture the next generation of overseas Koreans. Notable efforts include inviting overseas Korean youth and university students to their home country, organizing the Future Leaders’ Conference, and providing internship opportunities for overseas Korean youth.
We have also continued our efforts to improve for the livelihoods of our people by strengthening the global Korean networks, supporting SMEs, and expanding youth employment. We successfully hosted the World Korean Community Leaders Convention to strengthen networks among Koreans and fostered stronger ties between overseas Korean communities and the home country. The World Korean Business Convention, held in Jeonju, achieved remarkable outcomes, including 20,000 meetings for export, US$630 million in consultations, and US$58 million in export contracts. The Jeonju event in 2024 was particularly meaningful in that it marked the beginning of full-scale cooperation and linkage between overseas Korean business people and domestic SMEs. Additionally, an internship program offering domestic youth the opportunity to gain work experience at overseas Korean companies proved to be popular.
Building on these achievements and adapting to the changing policy environments, the Overseas Koreans Agency is committed to pursuing more impactful overseas Korean policies in 2025.
First, we will strive to expand the overall capabilities of global Korean community. The political influence of our overseas Koreans communities is steadily rising, as evidenced by the election of 15 Korean Americans to federal and state legislatures in the United States in 2024. We will work to consolidate the capacity of these communities and strengthen support for establishing a stable foundation and advancing into mainstream society in the countries of residence for overseas Koreans. In particular, we will actively explore ways to improve the dual nationality system in close collaboration with related government departments. This initiative aims to address the challenges posed by low birthrates and an aging population in Korea, while attracting global talent. We will develop various policies to ensure that the capabilities and human resources of overseas Koreans contribute to the betterment of the Republic of Korea.
Second, we will continue to provide comprehensive and substantial support for returned Koreans. As the number of returned Koreans increases, we will offer customized support to help them successfully settle and become valuable assets, contributing to the Korean society. At the same time, we will continue to make strenuous efforts to foster a more positive and inclusive perception of them among our citizens.
Third, we will pursue overseas Korean policies that contribute to the livelihood of people in Korea. In line with the government's efforts to improve the livelihood of people, we will promote investments by overseas Korean businesses in Korea, expand linkages between Korean businesses and domestic SMEs, and encourage overseas employment opportunities for domestic youth. The World Korean Business Convention, set to take place in Atlanta, USA, in April this year, will be carried out in holding onto such awareness and goals.
Fourth, we will solidify our support for fostering the identity of overseas Koreans and strengthening the global Korean community. We will increase support for various activities promoted by the overseas Koreans communities, including Korean language schools and Korean community organizations. Additionally, we will host annual events such as the World Korean Community Leaders Convention, the World Korean Business Convention, the Global Korean Politicians Forum, the Future Leaders’ Conference, the Overseas Korean Adoptees Gathering, and the OKFriends Homecoming Teens & Youth Camp. These events will be designed to foster the strong sense of identity among overseas Koreans and deepen their ties with the homeland.
In the Year of 2025, the Overseas Koreans Agency remains committed to listening to your valuable advice and working alongside you every step of the way.
I sincerely hope that the Year of the Blue Snake brings happiness to all of you and that all your wishes come true.
Happy New Year!
January 1, 2025
Lee Sangdeok
Commissioner, Overseas Koreans Agency