Immigrants as ‘New’ Precariats in the Korean Immigration Policy Regime: Navigating Identity, Rights, and Governance
Sook-Yeon Won
Department of Public Administration
This book is the output of a five-year research project supported by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea, under the Distinguished Scholar in Humanities and Social Sciences program. It has been published by the internationally renowned publisher, Routledge.
The book provides a multifaceted analysis of the dynamics surrounding racial diversity in Korea—a society historically characterized by ethnic homogeneity—and the social and policy implications of this diversity. By examining the rapidly increasing racial minorities through the conceptual lens of the “precariat,” the book rigorously explores Korea's complex and unique immigration reality.
This work stands out from existing studies and contributes to the expansion of related research in the following ways. First, it offers a comprehensive and dynamic analysis of immigration in Korea. Although interest in Asian immigration has grown, the realities of immigration in Korea remain on the periphery. By vividly discussing Korea's racial diversity and the distinctive realities of immigration, this book expands the horizon of immigration studies beyond a Western-centric focus.
Second, the book’s framework, structure, and analytical approach differ from those in the existing research. It is among the first studies to examine Korea’s immigration through the lens of the “precariat.” To this end, it adopts a three-pillars; precariat as identity, precarity as structural conditions, and precarization as process, enabling a multidimensional and dynamic approach to the realities faced by immigrant groups in Korea. This approach broadens the discourse on precarity and addresses the layered vulnerabilities that immigrant groups encounter.
Third, the book transcends the dichotomous discourse of racial minorities versus the majority population by offering an alternative perspective on the internal dynamics within immigrant groups as a new “precariat.” It empirically demonstrates that immigrants are not a monolithic group but consist of various subgroups experiencing different forms of vulnerability. By vividly portraying the uneven distribution of vulnerability within immigrant groups, it challenges fragmented conceptions of “precariat” and “minority.”
Fourth, through comparative analysis, the book examines not only Korea but also countries with favorable immigration policies, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, as well as countries with more restrictive policies, such as Japan and Germany. This comparative approach reveals the path dependency underlying ostensibly similar immigration phenomena and policies across different countries.
The book consists of seven chapters. Chapter 1, 'The Precariat Reimagined: A Korean Perspective' critically reviews the need for a fresh paradigm in immigration studies, offering a foundation for defining immigrants as a new precariat and introducing the tripartite structure of identity, structural conditions, and precaritization. Chapter 2, 'Key Issues in Immigration and Immigrants provides an overview of immigration and immigrant experiences in Korea, highlighting its unique aspects through empirical data and statistics. Chapter 3, 'Precariats' as Identity and Differentiated Rights of Immigrants', examines the relationship between immigrant identity and rights within the context of biological, social, and political identity and the political dynamics of identity recognition. Chapter 4, 'Precarity' as Structural Conditions and Its Gendered Dynamics', analyzes the structural vulnerabilities faced by immigrant groups, particularly how patriarchal traditions exacerbate the precarity of female immigrants, who experience unique challenges as both workers and family members. Chapter 5, 'Public Preference on Immigration as a 'Precaritization' Process' discusses how majority perceptions of immigrants deepen precarity and examines how Korea’s monocultural norms reinforce immigrant vulnerabilities. Chapter 6 titled 'Immigration Policy and Governance as a 'Precaritization' Proces' analyzes the impact of government officials—central to immigration policy formation—on immigrant vulnerabilities. It also explores the multilayered effects of immigration policies on immigrant precarity through comparisons with the U.S., Canada, Japan, and Germany. Finally, Chapter 7 'Envisioning the Future: Towards an Inclusive Immigration Regime', outlines future directions for Korea's immigration policy framework and proposes various alternatives for creating an inclusive immigration system.