With South Korea’s foreign resident population reaching 2.6 million, the successful integration of young adults with a migration background into the labor market has emerged as a critical socio-economic imperative. This study addresses this gap by critically examining the institutional discontinuities and structural barriers that hinder their school-to-work transition. In doing so, it provides a strategic roadmap to ensure the sustainable social integration of these young adults as independent and contributing members of society.

Based on these findings, this research proposes three strategic pillars for policy reform. First, it calls for enhancing the inclusivity of universal youth policies to lower institutional barriers related to nationality or visa status, thereby ensuring a level playing field for all. Second, it emphasizes targeted human capital development, including specialized higher education pathways for late-entry migrants and job-specific Korean language programs, to maximize their professional potential. Finally, the report advocates for governance innovation to eliminate the blind spot through inter-ministerial cooperation.