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547
CHALLENGES OF IMMIGRANTS AND MULTICULTURALISM IN SOUTH KOREA
Ozodkhon Tulanboeva
Third-year student of Tashkent state university of oriental studies
Abstract:
South Korea, during a period of economic growth and development, has created new
opportunities for foreign workers and immigrants. However, this process has also created a
number of problems. It also analyzes the obstacles that immigrants and their families face in the
areas of education, health care, and employment.
Key words:
immigrants, economic hardship, education, social integration, health care, social
stability, social services, societal change, integration programs.
Annotatsiya:
Janubiy Koreya, iqtisodiy o'sish va rivojlanish davrida, chet eldan kelgan ishchilar
va immigrantlar uchun yangi imkoniyatlar yaratdi. Biroq, bu jarayon bir qator muammolarni ham
keltirib chiqardi.Shuningdek, immigrantlar va ularning oilalari uchun ta'lim, sog'liqni saqlash va
ishga joylashish sohalarida yuzaga keladigan to'siqlar ham tahlil qilinadi.
Kalit
so’zlar:
immigrantlar,iqtisodiy
qiyinchiliklar,ta’lim,ijtimoiy
integratsiya,sog’liqni
saqlash,ijtimoiy barqarorlik,ijtimoiy xizmatlar,jamiyatdagi o’zgarishlar,integratsiya dasturlari.
Аннотация:
Южная Корея в период экономического роста и развития создала новые
возможности для иностранных рабочих и иммигрантов. Однако этот процесс также создал
ряд проблем. В статье также анализируются препятствия, с которыми сталкиваются
иммигранты и их семьи в сфере образования, здравоохранения и трудоустройства.
Ключевые слова:
иммигранты, экономические трудности, образование, социальная
интеграция,
здравоохранение,
социальная
стабильность,
социальные
услуги,
общественные изменения, интеграционные программы.
Immigration to Korea is low due to strong public resistance, resulting in restrictive immigration
policies. However, in recent years, the inflow of immigrants to South Korea has been increasing,
with foreign residents accounting for 4.9% of the total population in 2019. The government
claims that it welcomes foreigners to a "globally-minded South Korea," as described in the new
national immigration policy plan. However, critics argue that the government's goals and policies
are fundamentally discriminatory, stemming from racism and ethnic nationalism within the
country. In response, the South Korean government introduced new regulations in April 2014
requiring foreign spouses to pass a Korean language proficiency test and earn at least the
minimum wage, which was $14,000. Since 1991, South Korea has experienced a large influx of
foreign workers. Approximately 10,000 Asian workers came to South Korea in 1992 under the
newly established trainee program. By June 1996, there were 57,000 trainees in South Korea.
Despite the growing influx of trainees, the program also faced problems, namely that trainees
became undocumented workers due to wage differences, and they were not protected by labor
standards laws because they were not considered workers. Since 2004, the South Korean
government has been implementing the "Employment Permit System" for foreigners, which is
the result of a decade-long interaction between Korean citizens and foreign migrant workers.
According to the law, foreigners are allowed to enter mainly to perform low-paying jobs and are
excluded from social services. Public opinion data indicates that Korean citizens tend to hold
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volume 4, issue 7, 2025
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discriminatory attitudes towards foreign workers. There are numerous reports of legal and illegal
immigrants being imprisoned in many South Korean prisons for minor offenses or visa
misunderstandings. Additionally, there have been some reports of prisoners being beaten and
verbally abused. South Korean Immigration pays for the deportation ticket. As of December
2019, there were 2,524,656 foreigners in South Korea: this excludes those who acquired South
Korean citizenship, as well as children born with one South Korean parent, and of that number,
792,853 are short-term residents. The overall number of non-Koreans in South Korea rose by
200,000 in 2019.
In South Korea, immigrants often face challenges with social integration. National identity and
cultural traditions are important parts of Korean society, and as a result, newcomers are often
marginalized as foreigners. Finding a place in social networks and local communities can be
difficult, which increases feelings of isolation. Immigrants come from diverse cultures, which
causes differences in their lifestyles and perspectives. Cultural differences often lead to
misunderstandings. For example, for some immigrants, family values and traditions differ from
Korean culture, which can cause problems in interpersonal relationships. Language barriers are
one of the biggest challenges for immigrants. Not knowing Korean leads to difficulties in finding
employment, getting an education, and communicating in daily life. This also complicates social
integration, as many may not be willing to assist newcomers. Immigrants often take low-paying
jobs and remain economically vulnerable. Difficulties in the job search process, including issues
of recognizing skills and experience, often hinder their ability to ensure their economic stability.
This, in turn, has a negative impact on their quality of life. Immigrant children often face
difficulties in the education system. Their language skills and cultural context can negatively
affect the learning process. Educational institutions often do not provide additional support for
immigrant children, which negatively affects their academic achievement. There are stereotypes
and xenophobic attitudes toward immigrants in Korean society. This makes the social integration
of immigrants even more difficult. In some cases, they may face discrimination in the workplace
or in communities, which affects their mental health. The process of accepting a multicultural
environment in South Korean society is ongoing. However, this process takes time and often
provokes conflicting opinions. Changes are needed in society to develop a positive attitude
toward immigrants and protect their rights. The challenges associated with immigrants and
multiculturalism in South Korea are largely related to social integration, cultural differences,
language barriers, economic problems, and stereotypes. To address these problems, it is
necessary for the government and society to act together. By protecting the rights of immigrants,
providing them with support, and striving to understand cultural differences, South Korea can
become a more stable and cohesive society.
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