Left-Wing Parties and Local Immigrant Integration Policies: The Case of South Korea

• Published in: Korea observer Vol. 56; no. 2; pp. 285 - 314
• Main Author: Jeong, Yeonkyung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul Institute of Korean Studies 22.06.2025; 한국학술연구원
• Subjects: Analysis; Asian cultural groups; Case studies; Cities; Community; Eastern Europe; Emigration and immigration; Emigration and immigration law; Foreign residents; Government; Immigrants; Immigration policy; Laws, regulations and rules; Left wing politics; Liberalism; Local government; Multiculturalism & pluralism; Policy sciences; Political activity; Political aspects; Political parties; Pragmatism; Residents; Right and left (Political science); Social integration; South Korea; Theory; United Kingdom; 정치외교학; South Korea; Eastern Europe; United Kingdom; United States > US; Europe
• ISSN: 0023-3919; 2586-3053
• DOI: 10.29152/KOIKS.2025.56.2.285

According to the national-level theories on the immigrant integration policy, immigrant integration is predominantly a concern for left-wing governments. This study tests whether this theory remains valid at the local level by focusing on South Korea's local immigrant integration law, the Ordinance on Support for Foreign Residents. Specifically, this study explores if municipalities governed by left-wing parties are more likely to adopt the ordinance compared to those dominated by other political parties. Using a newly constructed dataset of 225 municipalities in South Korea and their adoption decisions on the Ordinance on Support for Foreign Residents between 2006 and 2012, the analysis shows that immigrant integration is indeed predominantly prioritized by left-wing local governments. The findings conclude that the national-level theory regarding left-wing parties and integration policy extends to the local level.