If you walk around Korea these days, it's easy to find restaurants serving food from all over the world. While international cuisine has long been available, a noticeable shift has taken place in recent years.

In the past, many foreign dishes were adapted to suit Korean tastes and were often operated by Korean owners. Today, however, more restaurants are staying true to their original recipes and cooking methods. It is also becoming increasingly common for these businesses to be owned and operated by foreign entrepreneurs themselves.

This trend is driven by more than changing dining preferences. As the Korean government has gradually eased policies related to foreign investment and business establishment, the number of foreigners preparing to start businesses in Korea has continued to grow.

As an administrative attorney specializing in immigration, visas, and business licensing, I frequently receive consultations from foreign entrepreneurs. In addition to sole proprietorships, I have also seen a growing number of foreign investors establishing corporations under the D-8 (Business Investment) visa to operate restaurants in Korea.

One of the most interesting observations from these consultations is that authentic recipes can be highly competitive in today's market. I believe there are two main reasons for this.

First, Korean consumers have become increasingly global in their tastes. As overseas travel and exposure to international cuisine have become more common, many people now seek authentic flavors rather than localized versions designed specifically for the Korean palate.

Second, Korea itself is rapidly becoming a multicultural society. Foreign residents are no longer a niche customer base but an increasingly important part of the market. For example, several Chinese restaurant brands entering Korea have strategically opened locations near areas such as Gangnam Station and Myeongdong Station, where many Chinese students and tourists gather, offering authentic cuisine to meet their customers' expectations.

Personally, I also enjoy international cuisine. While localized versions certainly have their appeal, there are times when I simply want to experience the same flavors I remember from my travels abroad. Restaurants operated by foreign owners often provide not only authentic food but also an opportunity to experience another country's culture.

Looking ahead, I believe the number of foreign-owned restaurants in Korea will continue to increase. The businesses that succeed will not focus solely on serving customers from their own countries. Instead, they will preserve the authenticity of their cuisine while also understanding the preferences of Korean consumers.

The growing number of foreign entrepreneurs represents far more than an increase in new restaurants. It reflects the increasing diversity of Korean society and the expanding role that foreign nationals play in the Korean economy.

As someone who works closely with foreign entrepreneurs every day, I expect this trend to extend well beyond the restaurant industry into many other sectors in the years ahead.

Recently, I came across an article discussing Korea's rapidly growing immigrant population. It prompted me to reflect not only on the numbers themselves but also on what those numbers truly represent.
South Korea is approaching a significant milestone—an immigrant population of three million. After declining during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of foreign residents has rebounded quickly, and the country is now on the verge of entering a new era.

What stood out to me, however, was not the size of the population.
It was the transformation behind it.

For many years, Korea's immigration policy focused primarily on filling labor shortages. Foreign workers were welcomed mainly to support industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, fisheries, and construction—sectors where domestic labor was increasingly difficult to secure.
Today, the picture is changing.

Recent statistics show a remarkable increase in skilled professionals holding E-7 visas, while government initiatives have expanded opportunities for experienced foreign workers to build long-term careers in Korea. At the same time, nearly half of all foreign residents are now in their twenties and thirties, providing much-needed energy to a country facing one of the world's lowest birth rates and a rapidly aging population.

As a Korean immigration specialist, I witness this transformation every day.
Until recently, most of my consultations involved temporary work visas or visa extensions.
Today, the conversations are very different.
"I want to build my future in Korea."
"I'd like to obtain permanent residency."
"I want to bring my family here."
"I hope my children can grow up in Korea."
These are no longer exceptional cases—they are becoming increasingly common.

For many people, Korea is no longer simply a place to work for a few years. It is becoming a place to build a life.
Of course, significant challenges remain.
While immigration policies continue to evolve, many foreign residents still face practical barriers in their daily lives, including language, housing, banking, education, and social integration. Improving visa regulations is important, but successful immigration policy requires much more than administrative reform.

It requires creating an environment where people can truly belong.
In my view, Korea's immigration policy is entering a new phase. The central question is no longer "How many foreign workers should we admit?" but rather "How can we help people become long-term members of our society?"
Immigrants today are not merely filling labor shortages.
They are entrepreneurs, engineers, researchers, healthcare professionals, students, parents, taxpayers, and neighbors. They contribute not only to the economy but also to the communities where they live.

The approaching three-million mark is more than a statistical milestone.
It reflects a fundamental transformation in Korean society.
The real challenge now is not simply preparing immigration policies for a larger foreign population—it is preparing our society to welcome and grow together with them.
 
One of the greatest privileges of my work is meeting people from every corner of the world.
Although they come from different countries, speak different languages, and have different cultural backgrounds, most of them share remarkably similar hopes.
They want stability.
They want opportunities.
They want to raise their families in a safe environment and contribute to the society they have chosen to call home.
If Korea aspires to become a truly global nation, success will not be measured solely by how many immigrants arrive.
It will also be measured by how well we build a society where they can belong, contribute, and thrive alongside us.
 

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of assisting an Uzbek client with her application for Korean nationality through special naturalization.

Although her father is Korean, she was born and raised in Uzbekistan and grew up as an Uzbek citizen. In her early twenties, she came to Korea to pursue her university education. Thanks to her father's nationality, she had little difficulty obtaining the appropriate visa and building a life in Korea.

During our consultation, one story stayed with me.

Whenever university vacations came around, she and her friends would make plans to travel abroad. While her Korean friends could simply book their flights and leave, she often had to apply for tourist visas with her Uzbek passport. More than once, visa requirements prevented her from joining the trips.

She told me those moments were when she first realized the true value of Korean citizenship.

One of the biggest reasons she decided to become a Korean citizen was the global reputation of the Korean passport and the freedom of travel it provides.

Of course, naturalization is never an easy process. She was particularly worried about the interview because she was not yet fully confident in her Korean language skills. I encouraged her by saying that, since she had already made the important decision to become a Korean citizen, I hoped she would continue studying Korean and achieve a successful outcome.

As a Korean immigration specialist, I meet people from many different countries almost every day.

There is one sentence I hear surprisingly often:

"I wish I had a Korean passport."

As of 2026, Korean passport holders can travel to 188 countries and territories without obtaining a visa in advance. This places the Korean passport among the world's most powerful, ranking alongside Japan and just behind Singapore.

For those of us born in Korea, this freedom often feels completely ordinary. Yet for many people, it represents an opportunity that can only be earned through years of dedication, patience, and effort.

I rarely thought about the value of my own passport when traveling overseas. However, after meeting countless foreign clients over the years, I have come to realize how a single passport can dramatically expand a person's opportunities, mobility, and choices in life.

This consultation reminded me that naturalization is about far more than changing one's nationality. It is about opening new doors, creating new opportunities, and giving someone the freedom to explore a much bigger world.

It also reminded me that Korean citizenship—and the Korean passport that comes with it—is a privilege many of us rarely stop to appreciate, yet one that countless people around the world aspire to obtain.

I recently visited the Hwaseong Immigration Detention Center in Gyeonggi Province.

The Hwaseong Immigration Detention Center is a government facility that temporarily detains foreign nationals who are subject to deportation while their removal procedures are being carried out.

I visited the center to meet a foreign worker who had been apprehended for overstaying his visa. He had originally entered Korea on an E-9 (Non-Professional Employment) visa. After his authorized period of stay expired, he did not return to his home country and continued working illegally until he was caught by immigration authorities.

I visited him at the request of an acquaintance to review whether there was any possibility of obtaining his release from detention.

What left the strongest impression on me, however, was not the legal issue itself but the detention facility. It is a place where people are confined while awaiting deportation, and the living conditions appeared to be quite poor. As I discussed his case and examined the legal options available, I found myself reflecting once again on Korea's Employment Permit System (EPS).

What is the Employment Permit System (EPS)?

The Employment Permit System (EPS) is a government program that allows Korean employers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises facing labor shortages, to legally hire foreign workers.

Introduced in 2004, the system was designed to reduce illegal employment, establish a transparent recruitment process, and better protect the rights of foreign workers. Under this system, the Korean government directly oversees the recruitment and placement process rather than relying on private brokers.

Advantages of the Employment Permit System

1. Reduction of Illegal Employment

Before the introduction of the EPS, Korea operated the Industrial Trainee System, under which private brokers often charged excessive recruitment fees. This contributed to a high rate of illegal stay and unauthorized employment.

By placing recruitment under government supervision, the EPS has significantly improved transparency and helped reduce illegal employment.

2. Improved Working Conditions

Foreign workers employed under the EPS are protected by the same labor laws that apply to Korean workers. They are entitled to equal treatment regarding wages, working hours, and other basic labor rights, providing greater legal protection than in the past.

3. Lower Recruitment Costs

Prior to the EPS, many foreign workers had to pay substantial recruitment fees in their home countries before coming to Korea.

Because the Korean government now manages much of the recruitment process, these costs have been substantially reduced, easing the financial burden on migrant workers.

Challenges of the Employment Permit System

1. Restrictions on Changing Workplaces

Although foreign workers are allowed to change employers under certain circumstances, the process is heavily regulated.

Workers must satisfy specific legal conditions, and in many situations changing workplaces is difficult in practice. Furthermore, the number of workplace changes is limited during the visa period.

These restrictions may discourage workers from leaving abusive or poor working environments and, in some cases, may lead them to overstay their visas instead.

2. Limited Employment Sectors

The EPS only permits foreign workers to work in designated industries, such as manufacturing, construction, agriculture, livestock farming, fisheries, and certain service sectors.

While this policy addresses labor shortages in essential industries, it also limits workers' employment opportunities and concentrates foreign labor within a relatively small number of sectors.

3. Human Rights Concerns

Some experts argue that the current structure of the EPS prioritizes employers' interests over workers' rights.

Because workers' legal status is closely tied to their employer, they may find themselves in vulnerable situations where it is difficult to leave unfavorable working conditions. As a result, concerns continue to be raised regarding the protection of migrant workers' human rights.

Illegal Stay Under the Employment Permit System

Despite the positive intentions behind the EPS, a number of foreign workers eventually become undocumented migrants.

Some leave their assigned workplaces because of low wages, difficult working conditions, or the limited ability to change employers. Once they leave without authorization, many lose their legal immigration status.

According to data released by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, approximately 265,000 foreign workers entered Korea on E-9 visas between 2020 and 2024. Among them, 7,410 workers left their assigned workplaces without authorization.

These figures suggest that structural issues within the Employment Permit System, together with workplace conditions, continue to contribute to illegal stay.

We’s Thoughts

Ironically, a system that was created to reduce illegal immigration has, in some cases, become one of the factors contributing to undocumented stay.

Addressing this issue requires more than stricter immigration enforcement Improving working conditions, providing fair wages, and creating a more flexible employment system are equally important.

Today, many industries in Korea depend heavily on foreign workers. In many sectors, businesses would struggle to operate without them.

Protecting the rights of migrant workers while maintaining a fair and effective immigration system is not only a matter of human dignity—it is also essential for the long-term stability and sustainability of Korea's labor market.

Last weekend, I had the honor of attending a truly meaningful event—the 30th Anniversary Celebration of PMCC (Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ, 4th Watch).

PMCC is a Pentecostal missionary church that originated in the Philippines and continues its missionary work and community outreach in many countries around the world. In Korea, a large number of Filipino members actively practice their faith, and this anniversary celebration brought together believers from across the country for a memorable and joyful occasion.

I attended the event together with fellow Certified Administrative Agents. Our purpose was not only to celebrate this important milestone but also to provide administrative and immigration consultations to members of the Filipino community living in Korea.

After the worship service, one of my colleagues delivered a seminar on Korean immigration and visa pathways for the Filipino congregation.

Since many of the attendees were foreign workers holding E-9 (Non-Professional Employment) visas, there was significant interest in understanding how they could build a long-term future in Korea.

The presentation explained the typical immigration pathway:

E-9 → E-7-4 (Skilled Worker) → F-2-99 (Residence Visa) → F-5 (Permanent Residence).

The seminar covered practical topics such as the eligibility requirements for each stage, the appropriate timing for changing visa status, and the preparations necessary to eventually qualify for permanent residency. The presentation included real-life case examples, and it was impressive to see many participants taking notes and actively engaging throughout the session.

It reminded me once again that, regardless of nationality, everyone shares the same hope of building a stable and secure life in Korea.

After lunch, we moved to the consultation booth prepared by the church and began providing one-on-one administrative consultations.

The consultations covered a wide range of topics, including:

• E-9 and E-7-4 visa consultations
• F-2-99 Residence Visa and F-5 Permanent Residence procedures
• Company incorporation and starting a business in Korea
• Business licenses and permits
• Seasonal Worker Program
• Administrative procedures for foreign residents in Korea
• Various immigration-related inquiries

The questions were far more diverse than expected, and it was a valuable opportunity to hear firsthand about the real challenges that foreign residents experience while living in Korea.

When assisting foreign nationals, some people assume that once a visa issue is resolved, everything else will naturally fall into place.

In reality, however, successful settlement in Korea requires much more than obtaining the appropriate visa. Employment opportunities, business establishment, legal compliance, administrative procedures, and integration into the local community all play essential roles in building a stable life.

The PMCC 30th Anniversary Celebration served as a meaningful reminder of this reality.

It also reinforced my belief that a Certified Administrative Agent is not simply someone who prepares documents, but a professional who helps foreign residents navigate Korea's administrative system and supports them in establishing a stable and successful life here.

At We Administrative Attorney Office, we will continue working closely with various foreign communities while providing professional services in immigration, business licensing and permits, company establishment, and other administrative matters that help foreign residents successfully settle and thrive in Korea.