Social Integration of Foreign Immigrants in South Korean Local Communities

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolving cooperative dynamics of immigrant policy in South Korea, emphasizing the interactions between central and local governments, as well as among various local authorities. It discusses the need to empower local governments with greater authority and responsibility in implementing immigrant policies, highlighting the importance of collaboration, coordination, and cooperation across multiple layers of governance. The article focuses on two case studies, the National Multicultural City Council (NMCC) and the Multicultural Immigrants Plus Center (MIPC), to illustrate the practical implications of this multi‐layered governance approach. The theoretical implications of the case studies are rooted in the concept of multi‐layered governance (MLG) and its application to immigrant policy governance, providing valuable perspectives for understanding and optimizing immigrant policy implementation across diverse socio‐political contexts.