By Michael Ha
Staff Reporter
The government said Thursday it is planning to make it easier for foreign residents to use the nation's public transportation system by adding new English-language signs and instructions on bus and subway maps, and on train tickets starting next year.
Additionally, beginning January, they will find it easier to take care of pending immigration matters and consult with civil servants, thanks to a new plan to expand immigration ``field'' services.
The government is also planning to unveil a host of other foreigner-friendly measures starting Jan. 1, the Office of the Prime Minister said.
The steps aim to help make it easier for overseas corporations to do business and invest in Korea.
Currently, immigration officials visit various regional areas weekly to assist foreign residents in remote areas who find it difficult to travel to major government offices. From next month, the program will be expanded so that government workers can make regional visits up to three times a week.
According to the office, more than 54,000 foreign residents in regional areas have used the field service so far this year to file immigration documents, and the number is likely to increase significantly with the program's expansion.
As of September, there are more than 850,000 foreign residents who have registered with the immigration office as required by law.
The expanded program will offer convenience to a greater number of residents, allowing them to take care of pending immigration issues in a timely manner without having to visit government offices in person. The immigration issues include filing registration for foreign nationals, requesting changes in legal status or length of stay in Korea and filing updates to registration information.
The government is also planning new ways to ease investment restrictions for foreign nationals and make it easier for overseas investors to become corporate stakeholders here.
Under current law, foreign nationals have to designate a Korean citizen as an official agent if they want to become a major shareholder in local insurance companies. But that specific requirement will be abolished beginning next month. The government is also planning to implement measures to attract more foreign companies to new industrial parks and buildings by making leasing prices more affordable.
Another measure planned for next year could make life easier for overseas Koreans currently residing in the country. Beginning next year, they can simply file their personal documents at local civil affairs offices in towns where they live, instead of having to travel to designated foreign residency offices.
[출처 : 코리아타임스]
