Foreign workers wearing traditional Vietnamese hats called "non la" harvest potatoes at a farm in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, July 23, 2025. Yonhap
The state human rights watchdog said Wednesday that the government should consider expanding eligibility for state relief funds to be more inclusive of foreign residents, citing concerns about discrimination.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) said it had conveyed its opinion to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and other relevant agencies, urging them to gradually broaden the scope of foreign nationals eligible for government support programs aimed at aiding households coping with economic hardship.
The issue was raised in a complaint filed July last year by migrant worker groups, which argued that the government's voucher-based cash assistance program treated foreign residents unequally depending on their visa status and household composition.
Last year's cash handouts were part of the government's emergency response to sluggish domestic spending. Under the scheme, all citizens and some foreign residents were eligible to receive 150,000 won ($100), with additional benefits for low-income households.
Non-Korean citizens were in principle excluded from the initiative, but exceptions were made for those with permanent residency, marriage immigrants and refugees covered by the state health insurance system.
Migrant rights groups argued that these rules were too restrictive and unfairly limited eligibility.
Responding to the complaint, the interior ministry, which oversaw the program, told the human rights body that the policy was designed as an emergency support measure funded by government finances and therefore had to be implemented within budget constraints.
After a monthslong review, the NHRCK dismissed the complaint filed by migrant workers, saying the government's decision could not be regarded as an abuse of administrative discretion.
However, the commission said there was a need to expand support for non-Korean residents, noting that more than 2 million foreigners were living and working across various industries while contributing taxes and social insurance payments.
Source: Korea Times News
