President Yoon Suk Yeol emphasized the importance of collaboration between national and local governments to address South Korea's population crisis by encouraging foreign residents to settle in the country. During a meeting with local government leaders in Hongseong-gun, he stressed the need for preemptive actions to support foreign nationals in integrating into Korean society and participating in the workforce. Yoon highlighted the significance of addressing both the low birth rate issue and the shortage of labor through joint efforts of central and local authorities. Yoon called for measures to facilitate the settlement of foreign residents and international students, emphasizing their contribution to the country's economy and the need to help them achieve their aspirations in Korea. The meeting also touched upon the challenges faced by local communities due to demographic changes and the efforts being made to attract foreign students to counter the decline in the school-age population in certain regions. Furthermore, the discussion involved proposals from provincial governments for customized local policies to support foreign residents, and Yoon welcomed their input on immigration and foreign resident policies. In addition to addressing the foreign worker issue, the meeting also addressed plans to expand the range of workplaces for E-9 visa holders and the government's efforts to increase the number of E-9 visas issued. Yoon also highlighted the need for local governments to have greater autonomy and financial support to develop region-specific policies to boost the birth rate in response to the declining fertility rate and increasing life expectancy in the country.