[Research Professor of Chonnam National University Center
for Regional Development]
The report investigated the right to the city through the lens of public service access of migrants in a self- declared Human Rights City, Gwangju. The achievements and limitations of Gwangju in ensuring public service access for migrants were assessed through in-depth semi-structured interview undertaken with migrants from diverse countries, jobs, and with different visa statuses. The report was situated in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which serves as a shock which could expose shortcomings in public service provision for migrants.
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Fifth, the National Health Insurance system should be expanded to include unregistered migrants, who are unreasonably shouldered with higher healthcare costs despite being the most vulnerable while paying taxes when they are paid. Sixth, public welfare provision should be reassessed to ensure that it doesn’t favor only certain groups of migrants. Seventh, to reduce discrimination, all public officers and health care workers who deal with migrants should receive training on how to deal with them. Eighth, immigration reforms to give migrants the option of continued residence in Korea should be instituted.
Migrants’ service access
Alan Brown
[Research Professor of Chonnam National University Center
for Regional Development]
The report investigated the right to the city through the lens of public service access of migrants in a self- declared Human Rights City, Gwangju. The achievements and limitations of Gwangju in ensuring public service access for migrants were assessed through in-depth semi-structured interview undertaken with migrants from diverse countries, jobs, and with different visa statuses. The report was situated in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which serves as a shock which could expose shortcomings in public service provision for migrants.
.
.
.
Fifth, the National Health Insurance system should be expanded to include unregistered migrants, who are unreasonably shouldered with higher healthcare costs despite being the most vulnerable while paying taxes when they are paid. Sixth, public welfare provision should be reassessed to ensure that it doesn’t favor only certain groups of migrants. Seventh, to reduce discrimination, all public officers and health care workers who deal with migrants should receive training on how to deal with them. Eighth, immigration reforms to give migrants the option of continued residence in Korea should be instituted.