People power Party Pushes for Restrictions on Benefits for Chinese Nationals

The People Power Party is advancing legislation aimed at curtailing benefits currently available to Chinese nationals in South Korea, focusing on real estate ownership, healthcare expenses, and voting rights. The Democratic Party has criticized the proposed laws as discriminatory.

Reporting from Bupyeong-gu, incheon, a known area for Chinese real estate investment, concerns were raised regarding potential tax avoidance.

“[A / Real Estate Agent, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon] The husband’s nationality is still Chinese, and he bought it in Gimpo. (The wife is Korean) and took the nationality. Then it is treated as one household and two houses… It can’t be treated like that. I don’t think it can be traced.”

The concern centers on the possibility of lower real estate tax payments for foreign nationals, even if the property is not their primary residence.

In Daerim-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, an area with a important Chinese population, healthcare access was also examined. Chinese-language signage is common in local hospitals.

[B / Healthcare Worker] “It seems like you almost have (health insurance). If you have insurance, you will be treated as is, just like Koreans.”

The People power Party argues these measures are necessary to address a lack of reciprocity in treatment between South Korea and China.

[Kim Eun-hye / Senior Policy Chair, People Power Party] “Why are they lenient on the Chinese, but strict on our own people? They cannot properly enjoy health insurance benefits, voting rights, or freedom of real estate transactions abroad.”

Publication Date: 2025/10/11 00:21:35