From a Migrant Integration of Distinction to a Multiculturalism of Inclusion

Abstract

While multiculturalism lost popular support in Europe, it gained public interest and policy attention in Northeast Asia, particularly in South Korea since the 1990s. Korea accepted multiculturalism discourse and policy with great enthusiasm. Given a small number of immigrants, especially a smaller number of permanent residents, the enthusiasm for multiculturalism that Korean people have shown so far is quite surprising and unusual. The drive behind a multiculturalism fad was possible because it was thought to be politically correct and was regarded as synonym for globalization and advancement, a step toward joining the ranks of advanced nations. The Korean approach to multiculturalism has several distinctive characteristics. First, multiculturalism and migrant integration are not clearly distinguished, and terms, such as multicultural policy, multiculturalism policy, foreign policy, and immigration policy, are often used almost synonymously and interchangeably. Second, the main target group or beneficiary of the government’s migrant integration policy is people in international marriages and their children. Migrant workers, who account for a larger share of immigrants in Korea, are not considered a major clientele of migrant integration programs. Ethnic Chinese, who have lived in Korean soil for many generations, are not even considered a relevant target group that the government needs to take care of. Third, most migrant integration policies and programs aim at assimilating immigrants to Korean culture and society rather than accepting cultures and identities of immigrant groups. Fourth, the Korean people and society as a whole are pretty sympathetic toward immigrants, especially toward female marriage migrants and their children. Because of the general public’s positive and benevolent attitudes toward immigrants, the Korean government allocated a generous budget for migrant integration programs. Fifth, because immigrants and ethnic minorities are not numerous and non-threatening and had arrived in Korea in different time periods, the Korean society has responded to each group in a separate manner. The group-specific approach has not only created fissures among migrants, but has also amplified prejudices and stereotypes, even antagonism and conflict among migrants and natives. Thus, in the future, government support ought to be provided to people equally, not according to their particular background information and identity, but according to their needs as determined by universal standards such as social class and risk factors (familial dissolution, sickness, and unemployment).