Journal of the Korean Geographical Society (대한지리학회지)

The Korean Geographical Society (대한지리학회)
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Contexts of Inflow and Socio-spatial Characteristics of Immigrant Workers in Japan: Focusing on the Case of Hiroshima Prefecture

일본 이주노동자의 유입 배경과 사회공간적 특성 - 히로시마현을 사례로 -

  • Choi, Byung-Doo (Dept. of Geography Education, Daegu University) ;
  • Lee, Dong-Suk (Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University)
  • 최병두 (대구대학교 지리교육과) ;
  • 이동석 (광도대학대학원 총합과학연구과)
  • Received : 2010.06.01
  • Accepted : 2010.06.16
  • Published : 2010.06.30
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Abstract

Facing reconfiguration of world economic order in the process of globalization and changes in domestic economic and social conditions, Japan has experienced a rapid inflow of foreign immigrants and hence a restructuring of labor market and ethic and cultural mixture. This paper explores contexts of inflow and social and spatial characteristics of immigrant workers in Japan. Uneven regional development on the global level and shifting to flexible accumulation regime, depletion of previously underutilized labor resource, better-educated youth and shrinking and aging of Japanese populace on the national level can be pointed out as important elements of immigration contexts. This paper also explains the hierarchizaton of labor market and differentiation of spatial distribution of immigrant workers in Japan in terms of visa condition and nationality. In particular, focusing on the case of Hiroshima prefecture, this paper analyzes residential differentiation of immigrants according to their nationality. Finally, it finds out some problems which immigrant workers have confronted in Hiroshima region.

일본은 1980년대 중반 이후 지구화 과정에 따른 세계경제질서의 재편과 국내 사회경제적 조건의 변화에 따라, 외국인 이주자들의 급속한 유입과 이에 따른 노동시장의 재편 및 인종적 문화적 혼합을 경험하고 있다. 이 논문은 일본의 외국인 이주자들, 특히 이주노동자들의 유입 배경과 노동시장의 계층화 및 공간적 분포의 차별성에 초점을 두고 이들의 사회공간적 특성을 연구하고자 한다. 우선 이 논문은 일본의 외국인 이주자들의 유입 배경으로서 지구적 차원으로 지역불균등발전과 국내적 차원으로서 유연적 축적체제로의 전환, 동원가능한 노동력의 고갈, 고학력화와 저출산 고령화 등을 지적하고, 이들에 의한 체류조건별, 출신국적별 노동시장의 계층화 및 공간적 분포의 차별화를 고찰하였다. 또한 히로시마현을 사례로 지역 내에서도 이들의 공간적 분포의 차별화, 즉 주거지 분화가 나타남을 확인하였다. 끝으로 이들이 지역사회에 거주하면서 봉착하게 되는 문제들을 임금체불과 해고, 체류자격, 결혼 및 이혼 등과 같은 개별적(경험적) 차원과 노동의 상품화와 신자유주의적 초국적 이주, 이주 및 취업과정에서의 비리와 불법, 파견근무제에 의한 고용불안, 외국인 이주자들의 유형별 분리통제 등 구조적 제도적 차원에서 발생하는 문제들을 지적하고자 한다.

Keywords

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