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OMNES : The Journal of multicultural society
[ Article ]
OMNES: The Journal of Multicultural Society - Vol. 12, No. 2, pp.1-25
ISSN: 2093-5498 (Print)
Print publication date 31 Jul 2022
Received 23 May 2022 Revised 28 Jun 2022 Accepted 12 Jul 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14431/omnes.2022.07.12.2.01

Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Vietnamese migrants in South Korea

Thi Thanh Lan Nguyen* ; Van Cuong Nguyen
Department of Liberal Arts, Wonkwang University, Korea
Department of Korean Studies, Phenikaa University, Hanoi, Vietnam
Department of Nursing, Hanyang University, Korea

* First author and corresponding author

Abstract

COVID-19 broke out in Wuhan, China, then spread vigorously around the world, seriously affecting the economy, society, and all aspects of life, and threatening the lives of humanity. Foreign migrants, who are vulnerable due to different residence statuses and living far from their families and home countries, face problems such as lack of income, comfort, basic food, stress and anxiety, and lack of psychological support. This study explores the impacts of COVID-19 on 15 Vietnamese migrants living in Korea via in-depth interviewss. The results show that many migrants on short-term visas, international students, and married migrants fell into psychological crisis due to stress during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, fear of unemployment, and unstable incomes. In particular, Vietnamese business people find themselves in challenging business situations, including bankruptcy. However, the migrants working in high education jobs, such as researchers and lecturers, have stable jobs and are less vulnerable to the economic and psychological impact. This study suggests long-term measures and strategies by the Korean Government to support foreign immigrants under COVID-19 and minimize the negative impacts of the pandemic.

Keywords:

COVID 19 pandemic, Impact, Vietnamese migrant, Korea, Policy

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Biographical Note

Thi Thanh Lan, Nguyen Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the College of Liberal Arts, Wonkwang University, Korea, and at the Department of Korean Studies of Phenikaa University, Vietnam. She holds a Ph.D. degree in International Studies from Chonnam National University, holds a Master of International Development Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, and a Master of Vietnamese Studies at Vietnam National University. She has pursued additional specialization in Immigration reform, international migration, Multicultural society, labor market integration, Asian studies, human rights, Vietnamese and Korean diaspora, and international relationships. Her current research focuses on family migration, international students, immigration reform, and illegal immigrants in Korea. E-mail: thanhlan21@ wku.ac.kr or thanhlan.edu218@gmail.com.

Van Cuong Nguyen, Researcher, School of Nursing, Hanyang University, Korea. Email: nvc11vn@gmail.com or cuongnv.apd@gmail.com