Many foreign residents here do not see Korea as a place where they can realistically build a long-term life, a poll showed, highlighting deep uncertainties over whether they can secure permanent status, stable jobs or a genuine sense of belonging. In an online poll of 258 foreign residents and naturalized Koreans conducted by Hankook Research for The Korea Times from Dec. 18 to 24, respondents across different age and visa brackets reported struggling to obtain stable careers and long-term status in spite of years spent studying or working here. Many said Korea still treats them more as temporary guests than as members of society. They call for more inclusive immigration rules, easier paths to permanent residency and citizenship, as well as formal channels for foreign residents to have their views reflected in policy. Experts say that without such reforms, foreign residents will remain stuck in a holding pattern ― useful to the economy, but never fully accepted as part of Korean society. When it comes to people’s general attitudes toward cultural diversity, however, the picture is m