Stakeholder Attitudes and Factors Affecting Multiculturalism and Immigrant Integration Policy in South Korea

Abstract

This study analyzes the attitudes of core policy stakeholders in South Korea to multiculturalism and immigrant integration policies, as well as the factors affecting such attitudes, and suggests theoretical and policy implications. I conducted a survey of public officials, program operators, and academics. The responses suggest that public officials, program operators, and academics in Korea have more positive expectations for immigrants' societal contributions and less fear of social clashes or conflicts due to increasing immigration, compared to the general public. They prefer the assimilationist model, which means that immigrants fully adopt the Korean culture and language as a matter of integration policy. The study sheds light on the stakeholders' attitudes to multiculturalism and immigration integration policy, how their views differ from the general public, and the causes and policy implications of these differences.