South Korea's Justice Ministry to Address Issues in Foreign Caregiver Training Program

The South Korean government has announced plans to investigate issues arising from its recently launched "Foreign Caregiver Training Program". This initiative, which began in March, aims to systematically train foreign caregivers and support their employment in local elderly care facilities. The Justice Ministry will conduct a survey of all enrolled students to identify any problems and will provide guidance through a standard guidebook for future recruitment.

As of now, 505 international students are enrolled in 21 universities designated as Foreign Caregiver Training institutions. Among these students, 228 are from Vietnam (45.04%), followed by 114 from Myanmar (22.62%), 43 from Uzbekistan (8.53%), 33 from Mongolia (6.55%), and 23 from Nepal (4.56%).

Concerns have been raised following reports that some students mistakenly believed they were enrolling in nursing programs, leading to financial burdens. Additionally, allegations surfaced regarding brokers taking significant fees during the recruitment process.

To address these issues, the Justice Ministry will conduct a comprehensive survey from July to September, targeting all students at the training universities. The survey will assess their admission pathways, the adequacy of information provided, and any fees charged by recruitment agencies. If any problems are identified, the ministry plans to implement necessary improvements.

Furthermore, the Justice Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, will develop a standard guidebook detailing the actual roles of caregivers, employment and visa benefits, and the specifics of the designated training program. This guidebook will be required for universities to provide to prospective international students.

A Justice Ministry official stated, "We will continue to improve the Foreign Caregiver Training Program in consultation with relevant departments, experts, and stakeholders to ensure it protects the rights of both citizens and foreigners while establishing a sustainable workforce in caregiving."