A community needs assessment of migrant workers in Ansan city, South Korea

Responding to increased migration inflows to South Korea, several welfare services have been initiated at the national and community level. However, do these measures address migrant workers' actual needs? Attempting to find an answer to this question, we engaged in a series of qualitative interviews with migrant workers, accompanied by field observation, focus groups, and interviews with other community stakeholders focusing on Ansan, an industrial city in the suburbs of Seoul. Findings suggest that there are considerable differences in welfare coverage depending on the migrant worker's visa status and ethnicity. The importance of community welfare services has been acknowledged as well.