Gunsan City announced that it has successfully translated its foreign resident policies into tangible results in 2025, following the establishment of a dedicated Foreign Residents Policy Team under the Population Response Division in January 2024.
As of 2024, the number of foreign residents in Gunsan reached a record high of 14,257, accounting for 5.4% of the city’s total population (265,473). This represents nearly a twofold increase over nine years, up from 3.0% in 2015.
In response to these demographic changes, Gunsan has systematically built a phased policy framework connecting the stages of inflow, settlement, and social integration.
To provide structured support for stable settlement, the Gunsan Foreign Residents Support Centre opened in February 2025 at the Gunsan Industrial Complex Cultural Centre. Since its opening, the centre has handled a total of 534 consultations as of the end of November 2025, including inquiries about Korean language classes, daily life counseling, and referrals to labor and legal professionals. In addition, 44 participants enrolled in basic Korean language courses and TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) preparation classes, receiving practical support for language adaptation.
The city has also expanded communication programmes such as the “K-Communication Festival,” which has contributed to increasing interaction and engagement between foreign residents and local citizens.
As a designated operating institution of the Ministry of Justice’s Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP), Gunsan provided not only Korean language education but also programmes supporting stable visa status acquisition and preparation for family invitation. In 2025, a total of 197 participants took part in the programme. The courses, which offered practical support to improve participants’ quality of life, were so popular that registration filled up as soon as it opened.
Gunsan City was also selected for the Overseas Koreans Agency’s first-ever local government public project, laying the foundation for policies to support overseas Koreans who have returned from abroad and settled in Gunsan. The city has established AI chatbot counseling services and dedicated communication channels to provide non-face-to-face settlement support, and is operating various exchange programmes—such as overnight two-day tours and cultural and experiential activities—to create initial points of connection and foster self-sustaining community networks among these resettled overseas Koreans.
A city official stated,
“Gunsan is transforming into a partner city where foreign residents live and grow together. By further strengthening the virtuous cycle from inflow and settlement to stable social integration, we will continue to build a sustainable city that maintains vitality even amid population decline.”
“Our Gunsan, Together with Resettled Overseas Koreans” Event
