외국 우수인력 유치를 위한 이민법제 개선방안 - 외국 우수인력의 영주자격 및 국적 취득을 중심으로 -

Currently Korea is concerned about the shortage of labor owing to aging and low childbirth. In view of the current life expectancy and the development trend ofmedical technology, the possibility of the mitigation of graying trend seems to bevery slim. The probability of the easement of low childbirth exists more or lessdepending upon the will and policy of the government, but in consideration of thepracticality of the policy, it doesn’t seem easy that the trend of low childbirthchanges itself. In these situations, in order to fill the shortage part of lacking elitemanpower and maintain a continuous economic development, the introduction ofelite manpower through immigration is suggested as an alternative. Advancedcountries has been already developing the policy to provide for aging ․ lowchildbirth and accept immigrants from foreign countries positively to maintain adynamic economy. Out country has improved varied immigration system to attract elite manpower offoreign countries in the meantime. A typical example was the mitigation of therequirement of permanent residence and the acquisition requirement of nationality. However, the result of the attraction of foreign excellent manpower wasinsufficient compared with advanced countries. It is thought that the causescontain the lack in connection and system between immigration related laws,absence of overall policy establishment and executive institutions, the problem ofvalidity of plural nationality and points immigration system, the matter ofstatutory reservation of permanent residence requirement and specialnaturalization, the matter of requirement of special naturalization, the treatment of the qualified person of permanent residence etc., From now on, we shall have toapproach the immigration policy requiring opinion adjustment, cooperation oragreement of diverse interested persons in the general frame, and based on it, weshall have to improve the immigration system hampering the domestic stay offoreign elite manpower. For this purpose, This research suggested the improvementplan such as the enactment of 「Immigration Act」 integrating immigration-relatedlaws, establishment of overall body to manage systematic immigration policy,materialization of the requirement of special naturalization, preparation for legalfoundation of permanent residence and special naturalization, and the activation ofpermanent qualification system etc.