Chapter 1: Constraints and Life Chances of Second-generation Migrant Children and Youth in South Korea

Since the 1990s, South Korea, long known as a homogeneous society, has experienced a significant influx of migrants and non-Korean ethnic residents. The foreign resident population has grown significantly, from 148,731 in 1997 to 910,149 by 2006, reaching 2,049,441 in 2016, and 2,507,584 by 2023, now comprising approximately 4.8% of the total population (E-narajipyo, 2024). This growth led to an expanding second-generation migrant population, including children of immigrants and youth migrants who arrived at an early age. For example, the number of students enrolled in primary and secondary schools (including elementary, middle, and high schools) with at least one parent of non-Korean origin was 46,954 in 2012, 82,536 in 2015, and 193,814 in 2024, indicating the count for each respective year (Korean Educational Development Institute, 2024, p. 36). Despite this population growth, the challenges and experiences of these second-generation individuals have been given relatively little scholarly attention compared to those of first-generation migrants.