Dunpo Elementary School in Asan stands out from typical schools in South Korea, showcasing a diverse student body where the majority struggle with the Korean language.
Local students often rely on classmates like 11-year-old Kim Yana, who moved from Uzbekistan with her family and translates lessons for her peers. Despite the challenges, Yana stands out as one of the best Korean speakers in her class, as nearly 80% of her classmates are Koryoins, ethnic Koreans from Central Asia who are predominantly Russian speakers.
As South Korea faces a declining birth rate and a looming labor shortage, the integration of Koryoins and other ethnic Koreans is being promoted as a potential solution. However, issues such as discrimination and ineffective settlement programs hinder their assimilation into society.
Addressing Labor Shortages with Koryoin Immigration
Koryoins are descendants of ethnic Koreans who migrated during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with many relocated to Central Asia during the Stalinist era. Over the years, they have assimilated into local cultures and lost their Korean language skills.
South Korea’s constitutional court ruled in 2001 to grant residency to Koryoins, leading to a surge of migration since 2014 when family reunifications were allowed. Currently, around 760,000 ethnic Koreans from China and Russian-speaking nations reside in South Korea, primarily settling in industrial cities like Asan where job opportunities abound.
Ni Denis, who emigrated from Kazakhstan in 2018, echoes this sentiment, noting that most of his coworkers in the factory are Koryoins, highlighting their vital role in the labor force.
The influx of ethnic Koreans is being viewed as a remedy to South Korea’s severe labor shortages, with the nation holding the lowest fertility rate globally. In 2023, the birth rate was recorded at a mere 0.72, significantly below the necessary 2.1 to maintain stable population levels without immigration. Projections indicate that South Korea’s population could reduce by half by 2100 if current trends persist.
The Ministry of Employment and Labour has noted the urgent need for 894,000 additional workers in various sectors over the next decade, emphasizing the crucial contribution of immigrant labor.
Integration Challenges in a Homogenous Society
While immigration addresses labor shortages, it presents challenges in an ethnically homogenous environment. Language barriers often lead to social segregation, as highlighted by students like Kim Bobby, who point out the challenges of communication between local and Koryoin children.
Dunpo Elementary has implemented daily Korean-language classes for foreign students to mitigate these issues, but teachers are concerned about the long-term academic prospects of Koryoin students who may not receive adequate support as they progress through the grades.
The school struggles to retain local students due to parental concerns about the pace of education being affected by the need to accommodate multicultural learners.
Koryoins report experiencing social challenges, including resistance from their Korean neighbors. Ni Denis shared his observations about community dynamics, expressing concerns over growing segregation based on cultural differences.
Experts stress the need for a paradigm shift regarding immigration in South Korea, advocating for comprehensive policies that facilitate better integration and support for immigrant families.
As of 2023, approximately 2.5 million foreigners reside in South Korea, contributing significantly to the labor market. Nevertheless, the current immigration framework primarily focuses on low-skilled workers, leaving room for improvement in long-term residency policies.
Lee Chang-won, director of the Migration Research and Training Centre, emphasizes the necessity of developing a more strategic approach to immigration, noting the limited support extended to families composed entirely of foreigners.
Despite these hurdles, many Koryoins, like Ni Denis, remain optimistic about their decision to relocate to South Korea, citing the improved living conditions and better wage opportunities for their families.
