Exploring Contemporary Issues in Korean Immigration: Advancing a Research Agenda

1. Contemporary issues in Korean immigration Advancing a research agenda Ann H. Kim, Department of Sociology, York University Metropolis Brown Bag Series * Citizenship and Immigration Canada 16 December 2008 * Ottawa

2. A framework Sending country - Politics - Economics - Culture - Social welfare Receiving country - Politics - Economics - Culture - Social welfare Bilateral linkages between states Transnational ties • Modes of incorporation • Governmental • Societal • Co-ethnic community • Institutional determinants Individual/family traits • Dimensions of integration • Spatial • Economic • Social • Cultural

3. Today’s presentation • History of immigration • Settlement patterns and emerging gateways • Current community profile and transnationalism • Economic integration and entrepreneurship • Additional areas for investigation: • The second generation • Immigrant seniors • Religious organizations • Data needs • Summary of research priorities

4. A 45-year history? • Diplomatic relations began in 1963 • First Canadian embassy in Korea in 1973 • Canada’s military presence during the Korean war, 1950-1953 • Official Canadian involvement in Korea in 1947 • Christian missionaries, late 19th century

5. Migration flows – 1973-2006 Pre-1963: Missionary students 1997-2003: Asian financial crisis 2004-: Emerging gateways 1963-1986: Permanent settlers 1987-1996: The business class Sources: Landed Immigrants, CLPR, Immigration Statistics Years 1973 to 1996 (Employment and Immigration Canada), 2006 Facts and Figures (CIC)

6. Recent destinations, CMAs Source: Intended Destination, 2006 Facts and Figures (CIC)

7. Korean immigrants in Canada, CMAs (%) Source: Landed Immigrants, 2006 Census (Statistics Canada)

8. Recent arrivals • Gradual dispersion to emerging gateways: • Calgary, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Hamilton, Abbotsford, Atlantic Canada • PNP  Winnipeg • Research questions: • Impact of PNP • Adjustment for both immigrants and local communities • Attraction and retention

9. Ethnic Koreans by region Source: Ethnic Origins, 2006 Census (Statistics Canada)

10. Ethnic Koreans, temporary residents + Source: Ethnic Origins, Immigrant Status, 2006 Census (Statistics Canada)

11. Foreign student flows Source: Annual Flow, 2006 Facts and Figures (CIC)

12. Foreign students • Growth facilitated by: • Access to money • Governmental/non-governmental interventions: • Student visa exemption in 1994 • Canadian Experience Class in 2008 • Increasing contact between educational systems • Export education industry

13. Foreign students, transnational families • Transnationalism and the global economy • Two types: kirogi families, ‘parachute’ children • Research questions: • Quality of care under legal guardians • Access to programs and support • Settlement, adaptation, health, reluctance to return • Temporary versus permanent streams • Integration in existing Korean communities

14. Education and income Source: Ethnic Origins, Completed Education, 25+ yrs, Mean Income, Full Time/Year, 2001 Census (Statistics Canada)

15. Ethnic entrepreneurship Source: Ethnic Origins, 25+ yrs, 2001 Census (Statistics Canada)

16. Korean entrepreneurs • Earliest immigrants worked in factories then turned to self-employment • Ethnic niche for recent immigrants • Research questions: • Determinants of self-employment • Consequences of self-employment – status loss, work-stress, family life, social engagement • Impact of policy changes: Sunday shopping legislation, tax policies, trade and the big box stores, Business Class Program

17. The 2nd generation • ~19% of ethnic Koreans • High levels of education (60% university degree) • Low levels of self-employment (<10%) • Research questions: • Intergenerational mobility - upwardly mobile or expectedly mobile given parents education? • Determinants of mobility of the second generation

18. Korean seniors • Two groups: • Immigrants who become seniors • Seniors who become immigrants • Research questions: • How the age at arrival affects the aging experience • Implications of sponsorship provisions • Access to culturally- and linguistically-relevant services

19. Religion and religious organizations • 70% Protestant or Catholic • 80% members of religious organizations • 300 churches, 10 temples • Research questions: • Under what conditions do Korean religious organizations facilitate the settlement and integration process of immigrants? • Role of religious organizations in community development

20. Data needs • Landed data, prior to 1973 • PRDS data, prior to 1980 • Temporary resident data, disaggregated • Foreign student data by level of school • Temporary to permanent status • Oversampling of smaller immigrant groups in national surveys

21. List of research priority areas • Recent arrivals and emerging gateways • Foreign students and transnational families • Economic integration and self-employment • The second generation • Immigrant seniors • Religious organizations