1
1
DRAFT FOR COMMENTS, NOT FOR CITATION
NORTH KOREANS: ARE THEY BURDEN OR BLESSING? -
A STUDY OF SOUTH KOREA’S POLICY TOWARD TALBUKJA
Jeany E. Choi
School of International Relations
University of Southern California
## email not listed ##
ABSTRACT
This paper is a study of ethnic migration policy of South Korea toward Talbukja (North Korean
defectors).
I attempt to examine why South Korea has taken a restrictive migration policy
toward its own ethnic group (North Korean defectors or so-called Talbukja).
I outline some of
the major debates on immigration control policies and within the framework of these arguments,
I give some possible explanations of why South Korea has a restrictive migration policy toward
Talbukja. I initially follow Myron Weiner’s division of the debates on how the migrants or
refugees affect either the receiving or sending or both countries as a structure for my arguments.
Weiner divides the debates into cultural, economic and political parts. This paper attempts to
cover them all but concentrates more on the debate over political argument which seems the
most convincing argument to explain the South Korean restrictive immigration policy toward its
own race.
Lastly, I give some policy recommendations and concluding remarks.
Prepared for Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association
(ISA), Honolulu, Hawaii, March 2, 2005.