Migrants Supporting programs and Social Integration of Migrants

Abstract

The development of Korea into an advanced economy and the consequential growth of migration import were not unforeseen. A series of new legislations followed, resulting in the implementation of Employment Permit System and Working Visit System. The social status of migrant workers is now transforming from a mere functional role to a composite of the society who can determine social changes. Local governments established support centers to protect the human rights of labor migrants who reside in its jurisdiction, so as to promote multicultural co-existence and social harmony between Koreans and migrants. Despite their physical presence in Korea, these individuals are prone to be left out of the local community, isolated and lost without a sense of real belonging and integration to any kind of social group. Being aware of the fact that Korea is already hosting a large number of migrants who find themselves at various standpoints on the spectrum of integration process despite the countrys efforts to foster a harmonized society in the past couple of decades, it will be a valuable work to conduct an interim check on how Korea has been doing. In this context, this study intends to investigate how well the migrants of Korea think they have been integrated into the Korean community in relation to the assistance of the services and support programs administered by local authorities and public institutions, focusing on the case of Ansan, Korea. Key words: Migrants, integration, support program