Discussion
At the 3rd Korea-Japan Future Seminar, held at SNU-GSIS on June 26, 2025, Professor Moon Kyungyun delivered a presentation titled “Youth with Migration Backgrounds in Korea: Focusing on the Case of Koryo-saram Youth.”
A lively Q&A session followed the presentation. One question raised concerns about the factors affecting Koryo-saram youths’ university admission rates and access to advanced education within the rigid and often exclusive Korean public education system, which tends to disadvantage children from foreign backgrounds. In response, Professor Moon explained that, unlike Korean parents, Koryo-saram parents often view school enrollment as optional rather than essential. Regarding a question about the funding of educational institutions, she noted that some rely on fluctuating government subsidies for foreign residents, while others operate as private academies funded through tuition fees.
It was also noted that while Korean policy primarily focuses on “education,” it lacks sufficient support for the broader aspects of migrants’ lives after settlement. Moreover, policy discourses using terms such as “bilingual,” “dual-background,” or “global” are often disconnected from economic realities, as students frequently aim for rapid assimilation into Korean society. Professor Moon added that although Taiwan is generally more inclusive than Korea in terms of multicultural acceptance, many young people with migration backgrounds still experience conflict and tension with their families during the process of growing up.
Finally, the discussion addressed similarities between Japan’s Nikkei-jin (people of Japanese descent) and the Koryoin in Korea. It also touched on subtle differences among Koryo-saram themselves, depending on whether they come from Russia, Uzbekistan, or other regions.
