한국 다문화사회의 이해와 다문화 교육 연구 = Understanding Korean Multicultural Society and Multicultural Education Study

국문 초록 (Abstract)

세계화와 더불어 출신국이 다양한 외국인들이 일자리, 결혼 또는 학업 등을 이유로 압축적 경제성장을 이룬 한국 사회로 몰려들고있다. 결혼이민자, 외국인 근로자, 중국동포를 비롯한 재외동포, 북한 이탈주민, 유학생 그리고 난민 등의 유입으로 민족적으로 문화적으로 다양성이 증가하면서 한국은 이미 다문화사회로 진입하였다.
다문화사회에 이 들에 적응을 돕기 위하여 경제, 건강, 교육, 영양, 정치, 사회문화, 보호 등의 차원에서 이들의 권리를 보장할 필요가 있다. 이 글에서는 한국 다문화사회의 현황과 과제를 파악하고, 이를 분석하여 건강한 다문화사회를 만들어 가기 위한 다문화 교육의 바람직한 방향을 제시하였다.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The 21st century is an era in which large-scale migration around the globe has become common. In the international community, the phenomenon of post-statehood is accelerating as economics, information and technology, and human resource exchanges are actively progressing at a global level, breaking away from the ideological antagonism and hostile relationships of the past. In the aftermath of globalization that has enveloped the world, various foreigners are flocking to the Korean society, which has achieved rapid economic growth, for reasons such as jobs, marriage, or studies. Multiculturalism refers to linking, reflecting, and applying the cultures of several countries, emphasizing the differentiation of each culture, and pursuing cultural diversity. When defining a multicultural society as a society comprised of various races and ethnicities in relation to the diversity of citizens of a country, multiculturalism refers to a situation in which different racial and ethnic groups have equal human rights and are not ignored or despised.
Korea’s multicultural society is a result of the increase in migrant workers and marriage immigrants due to the influx of foreign labor along with globalization. As the immigration of foreigners has rapidly increased in Korea, a series of social services have been provided to them, including Korean language education, economic support, and stabilization of life. However, social prejudice, discrimination, and human rights violations against immigrants are still becoming social problems, and there is also a phenomenon of avoidance of Korea in Southeast Asia. At the same time, anxiety and breakup of multicultural families are increasing, and their labor rights issues resulting from foreign workers’ working conditions and poor working environments are becoming more serious. In order to overcome the absurd vicious cycle that occurs during the settlement process of foreign immigrants and to realize a multicultural society in which people live together by utilizing the positive aspects of cultural diversity, our society must embrace cultural diversity and sublimate it into energy for the maturation and development of Korean society.
In this paper, we seek to identify the aspects and challenges of Korean multicultural society and analyze the background and problems of multicultural families to find a desirable direction for multicultural education to lead a healthy multicultural multicultural society.