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A University of Sussex DPhil thesis Available online via Sussex Research Online: http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/ This thesis is protected by copyright which belongs to the author. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the Author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the Author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Please visit Sussex Research Online for more information and further details MIGRATION AND INTEGRATION IN BORDERLESS VILLAGE: SOCIAL CAPITAL AMONG INDONESIAN MIGRANT WORKERS IN SOUTH KOREA KWANGWOO PARK Thesis submitted for qualification of PhD in Migration Studies UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX JULY 2014 ii University of Sussex Kwangwoo Park, PhD in Migration Studies Migration and Integration in Borderless Village: Social capital Among Indonesian Migrant Workers in South Korea SUMMARY Existing research (Guarnizo et al. 2003; Portes, 2001; Cohen and Sirkeci, 2005) has endeavoured to clarify the relationship between migrants’ transnational activities and their integration into the host society. Although there are both positive and negative perspectives on this relationship, it remains unclear whether migrants’ transnational activities are likely to help or hinder their integration into the host society (Vertovec, 2009). This thesis uses the lens of social capital and diaspora identity to shed light on the relationship between Indonesian migrants’ transnational activities and their integration in a multi-ethnic town in South Korea. The influx of migrants from various countries has led to the creation of what is called ‘Borderless Village’, where people have opportunities to build intercultural connections beyond their national group. Based on ethnographic fieldwork with a group of Indonesian migrants, which themselves show social disjunctions in terms of region of origin, language, religious belief and cultural practices, this thesis examines the integration patterns of Indonesian immigrant groups in this town. In terms of whether transnational activities help or hinder integration in South Korea, I argue that both realities co-exist, and that the status of Wongok-Dong as a iii migrant enclave and the internally divided nature of the Indonesian migrant group itself are key factors in this regard. Indonesian migrants achieve integration among themselves by performing economic and socio-cultural transnational activities, thereby transcending divisions within the group. Although there are differences in terms of their capacity to conduct transnational activities that are shaped by each Indonesian immigrants’ different types of social capital, they are able perform transnational activities through creating and utilising ‘hidden social capital’. This is generated when Indonesian migrants strategically reveal one of their identities, such as Indonesian, Muslim or other positions, rather than emphasising their regional origin in Indonesia to achieve their objectives such as pursuing economic profits, saving face and maintaining livelihood. Through mobilising these additional identities, most Indonesians can access resources that enable them to perform transnational activities – making international phone calls, occupying cultural spaces, participating in national celebrations – beyond their regional affiliations. In this regard, Indonesian migrants integrate into Wongok-Dong by performing transnational activities due to the features of the town as a migrant enclave. However, they are isolated from mainstream Korean society, as they only achieve integration into the multiethnic space of Wongok-Dong. Thus, this research adds crucial dimensions to theories of the relationship between migrants’ transnational activities and integration into their host society through redefining both the features of the diaspora group and the role of social capital. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis would not have been possible without the kindness and generosity of my Indonesian and Korean informants and interviewees. For confidential reasons, I cannot name my informants but I heartily thank all of them who not only shared their lives and experiences but also their laughter, tears and friendship with me during my fieldwork year. I also would like to gratitude to Hwanki Jung (鄭煥麒), chairman of Hobak (琥珀) group in Japan, for his financial and emotional support. Due to his position as a Korean Japanese, he has always shown a special interest in my research. He did not hesitate to give me a scholarship for the study of migrants in Korea, which enabled me to focus on my research during my PhD years without huge obstacles. At Sussex, I would like to thank my supervisors Margaret Elizabeth Sleeboom- Faulkner and Anne-Meike Fetcher. This thesis would not have been possible without their patient guidance, support and motivation. As well as my supervisors, people who were in the Sussex Centre for Migration Research always encouraged me to go forward. Among staff, I thank Tony Fielding, Russell King, Ben Rogaly and Jenny Money. Among PhD students, I especially want to mention Markus Breines, Sajida Zareen Ally, Gunjan Sodih, Ellisa Pascucci, Titiksha Shukla and David Rubyan Ling. Also, I would like to express my gratitude to Korean colleagues at Sussex. I am grateful to Sungwoong Hwang, Sangwoo Shin, Sohyung Kim, Aejin Han, Yoonsik Shim, Dongun Park, Heungjin Lee, Sunjae Lee, Minwoo Oh, Yihyun Park and Jegi Ra. Without them, my PhD would have been lonely process far away from Korea. vi During fieldwork it was wonderful to meet others doing research on Wongok-Dong and foreign immigrants: Hiroki Bell (Tokyo University), Minwoo Seo (The Academy of Korean Studies), Professor Youngkyun Yang (The Academy of Korean Studies), Professor Gunsoo Han (Kangwon National University), Professor Suhyeon Jang (Kwangwoon University) and Professor Youngchun Kim (Jinju National University of Education). They have provided great support and friendship and it has been a pleasure to explore the field with them. At Busan University of Foreign Studies, I would like to thank the professors of the Malay-Indonesian department: Sooil Kim, Sunhui Jung and Kyeongseock Kang who provided me with a foundation in Indonesian studies. Also, I am grateful to professors of the School of International Business and Area Studies (SIBAS: GLE): Dongwoo Lim, Sunho Kim and Jaehyeong Cho who provided me with opportunities to expand my academic mind. As well as professors, many thanks are due to GLE colleagues for their emotional support during my PhD years. Most importantly, I want to thank my dedicated family. My wife, Hynji Yoo, and my children, Nau and Iru, have always supported and encouraged me in this journey to my Ph.D., even when that journey took me far from them. Thank you to my father, mother and brother for their unwavering support. Nothing would have been possible without them. vii CONTENTS List of figures x List of tables x List of abbreviations xi Glossary and foreign terms xii Map of Ansan multicultural village special zone xiv Chapter 1. Introduction 1 The Purpose of the study 5 Framing the study 7 The concepts of the analytical framework 7 The choice of Indonesian in Wongok-Dong as the study group 9 Chapter outline 11 Chapter 2. Korea, Wongok-Dong and Indonesian immigrants 14 Introduction 14 Korea as an homogeneous country 16 The construction of Korean ethnic nationalism 16 Demographic changes and the introduction of the guest worker programme 19 Multidimensional aspects of social exclusion 20 Wongok-Dong as a ‘Borderless Village’ 22 The formation of the foreign migrants’ town in Wongok-Dong 22 Building a ‘Borderless Village’ 27 Limitations on building a ‘Borderless Village’ 30 The Indonesian immigrant group as heterogeneous group 32 Background of the Indonesian homeland 32 Indonesians in Wongok-Dong 35 Conclusion 38 Chapter 3. Literature review 40 Introduction 40 The Literature on Wongok-Dong 41 Integration 46 Diaspora and Ethnicity 49 Social capital 59 Transnationalism 66 viii Conclusion 69 Chapter 4. Methodology 73 Ethnographic research 74 Research site 74 Research subjects 75 Research methods 76 Participant observation 76 Reflections of participant observation 78 Interviews 80 Reflections on Interviews 84 Data recording and analysis 85 Ethnical issues and Validity and Reflexivity 86 Ethical issues 86 Validity 88 External and internal validity 89 Reflexivity: going ‘insider’ and being ‘insider’? 91 Korean outsider 92 Social status 100 Memories 105 Chapter 5. Boundary maintenance of Indonesian migrants 108 Diaspora, ethnicity and Indonesian migrants in Wongok-Dong 108 Symbolic segregation 111 Language 111 Spatial segregation 114 Dwelling 114 Patterns of food consumtion 118 Social segregation 121 Regional orgin 121 Islamic doctrine 124 Conclusion 125 Chapter 6. Boundary transcendence of Indonesian migrants 128 Nationality, ethncity and segmented Indonesian migrants in Wongok-Dong 128 Challenges 131 Opportunities 137 From challenges to oppotunities 142 Challenges 143 Opportunities 147 Conclusion 150 Chapter 7. Social Capital of Indonesian migrants 153 ix Boundary making of Indonesians and role of social capital in Wongok-Dong 153 Bonding social capital: obtaining resources from paguyuban 155 Eliminate cultural fatigues 156 Temporary dwelling 159 Employment 161 Preparing for unexpected incidents 164 Bridging social capital: chasing resources