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The Institute of East Asian Studies (IN-EAST) at the University of Duisburg-Essen is organizing its last lecture as a part of Research Forum “Diversifying Immigrant Societies in (East) Asia”. This forum is co-organized with collaborative research project QuaMaFA (Qualification and Skill in the Migration ­Process of Foreign Workers in Asia) funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research Germany (BMBF). Prof. Yoon will give a talk entitled “Current status and policy response to migrant integration and multiculturalism in Korea” on 17th July 2024, 10:00 (am/CET) / 17:00 (KST) ONLINE.

Abstract

The current status of migrant integration in Korea seems to be far from ideal. The human rights violations against migrants remain common in the workplace and everyday life. The public’s perception and attitudes toward migrants have changed from paternalism to apathy, and is deteriorating to the level of hatred toward certain groups. Korean adults' multicultural acceptance increased from 2010 to 2015, but has continued to decline since then. The level of social integration of migrant workers and married immigrant women, which are representative groups of migrants in Korea, is not high in both material and psychological aspects. Migrant workers have a high employment rate, but they work long hours in low-skilled, low-wage work, are exposed to non-payment or delayed payment of wages and physical and verbal violence, and their labor rights are greatly restricted. They cannot bring their families, and their opportunities to acquire permanent residency and nationality are greatly limited, so they are not subject to social integration. Marriage migrant women tend to have low employment rates, employment stability, and income due to their low age and education level, ability to understand Korean language and culture, the large age and cultural gap with their husbands, and the burden of childbirth and childcare. They are also dependent on their husbands because they need their consent when applying for permanent residency and nationality. The language and culture of their home country are not respected and they are under strong pressure to assimilate into Korean culture.

Bio

In-Jin Yoon is a professor of Sociology at Korea University and the director of the Korea University Library. He earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Chicago and taught in the Asian American Studies Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His research interests include social psychology, international migration, immigration policy, and overseas Koreans and Korean diaspora. He is the author of On My Own: Korean Businesses and Race Relations in America, Korean Diaspora, North Korean Migrants, International Migration and Multiculturalism in Northeast Asia.

This event is partially funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and co-organized with the IN-EAST.