Korean justice minister heads to Europe for advice on immigration policies

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon enters the ministry headquarters at Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, on Thursday. [NEWS1]

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon will visit Europe to seek advice on establishing an immigration agency.

The Justice Ministry announced on Monday that Han will visit France, the Netherlands and Germany from Wednesday to next Tuesday and meet with immigration agency officials to discuss their immigration policies.

The objective of the overseas business trip is to share information and policies on immigration, emigration and border control with key European nations that have long experienced the various waves of said policies, and to establish a communication channel going forward, according to the ministry.

Han has addressed the importance of tackling immigration issues and highlighted them as the ministry's long-term policy goal since taking office in May last year. The Justice Ministry set the establishment of an immigration agency as its goal for 2023, which will act as a control tower for policies on immigration and foreigners.

BY SOHN DONG-JOO [sohn.dongjoo@joongang.co.kr]