The path to multiculturalism in South Korea : unpacking government policies, public opinion, civil society, and migrant experiences in a changing society /

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Student Theses

2025

Mirkelam, Burcu

Thesis

This research explores the potential of a multicultural South Korea and the progress of state-led multicultural policies, focusing on the integration of high- and low-skilled immigrants into South Korean society. I examine to what extent immigrants have (re)defined multiculturalism and challenged the nationalist discourse in South Korea. As multicultural policies took initiative in the 1990s due to the influx of migrants, this research will focus on the evolution of government policies from the 1990s until today and articulate the inclusion and exclusion mechanisms of the state toward immigrants. Although the policies initially had a limited sphere of influence, this has changed throughout the years as the government adopted a more inclusive approach and incorporated international human rights norms in policymaking for the integration of minority communities living in South Korea. While the existing literature has explored demographic trends and policy developments, the findings of this research will help explain significant gaps in the literature by illustrating the intersectionality and complex layers in adopting multicultural policies for immigrant integration in South Korea. In other words, there are different value systems attached to certain minorities in South Korea when the interactions between state-led policies, public opinion and immigrant experiences are explored through qualitative methods, including policy document analysis, process tracing, and in-depth interviews with immigrants, experts, and civil society organisations. Multiculturalism may have failed in Western societies, but this research significantly contributes to conceptualising South Korean multiculturalism as a dynamic, context-dependent process that challenges ethnic nationalism, offering valuable insights for Asian societies navigating similar demographic and social transformations

LG51.H43 Dr 2025eb Mirkelamb

https://educoll.lib.eduhk.hk/records/MNGOOhUj