Social Integration of Immigrants in Korea: Examination of the Eligibility of Permanent Residents to Social Welfare Benefits

Abstract

This study compares social welfare policies for foreign residents in Korea to their counterparts in the United States, Germany, and Japan. To contributory benefit programs like social insurance programs, all the residents in most advanced countries are eligible regardless of nationality. This is also true for most social insurance programs in Korea, but the exception is the National Pension which a principle of mutuality applies to. Considering that the National Pension aims to secure old-age income by contribution of participants during working periods, the eligibility needs to be expanded to all the foreign residents in Korea. For non-contributory benefits such as social services and public assistance benefits, permanent residents are treated basically in the same way as citizens are in advanced countries. Non-contributory benefits, currently restricted to citizens, need to be expanded to permanent residents in Korea. The expansion may function as incentives to permanent residency and contributes to integrating foreign residents to Korean society.