KJC Korea
Journal Central

Refugee migration has become an issue in Korean society in the21st century, and the reactions to Yemen refugees in Jeju island of2018 is a prime example. This study focuses on the reactions ofKorean society to Yemen refugees in Jeju island of 2018. ApplyingCohen (2011)’s moral panic theory, this study analyzes the processof producing an affect of fear and anxiety for refugees. This paperpoints out the limitations of the concept of moral panic, that is, theway in which moral panic is expressed differently according tosocial contexts, and the need to analyze its causes. In order toshow the social context, this study briefly presents the descriptivestatistical analysis of Koreans's social consciousness about refugeesand migrants. In addition, the researcher uses field research datasuch as refugee protest rally in Jeju Island and Seoul, relatedarticles and literature data such as amendments to the refugee law. Following Cohen, this paper also analyzes “noisy construction, theexpression of affect: amplification of anxiety and fear” and “quietconstruction, the reaction of a group of experts.” In conclusion, thispaper shows that affective exclusion of refugees was embedded in social consciousness at the level of the life world. Second, throughthe case of exclusion of others represented as Yemen refugees inJeju island of 2018, this study analyzes that Korean society can bedriven to dramatic exclusion of others through amplification of fearand anxiety, which leads to claims for change in the system suchas revision of the constitution and law. In addition, it was foundthat refugees organize their own collective actions, they are insolidarity with civic groups, and their voices are not spreadingsocially. In other words, from the perspective of sociology ofhuman rights, it is pointed out that the refugees's claims are weakand the institutional effort for empowerment of refugees isnecessary.

The Sanitary Pad incident outbroke in August of 2017,concerning the over-the-limit toxicity of sanitary pads beingdistributed in South Korea. Following the broadcasts that reportedovert levels of toxic chemicals and harmful substances found inmultiple sanitary pads, women have actively spoke out for changes,both online and offline. The sanitary pad incident is appreciated asa woman’s rights movement that brought improvement in socialperception and treatment of women’s menstrual rights, and isacknowledged alongside many online feminist movements activatedthrough the “Feminism Reboot.” This study sheds light on theprocess of the movement and the changes women’s practices haveelicited with in-depth interviews and comprehensive analysis ononline SNS data regarding the issue. The women shared theirexperiences and sentiments, urged the companies and governmentfor fundamental redressing of the matter, and demanded that allingredients be labeled out. There were certain shortcomings, however. These movements lacked the inner hub to constantlyrefuel the force of social attention, and the problem of safetyremains unsolved to this day. Nevertheless, the counter-movement tothe Sanitary Pad incident is evaluated to have towed thelegalization of all-ingredients-specification on sanitary pads. It alsohelped to establish a more positive view on women’s body thatmenstruates, as well as boost correlated issues on women’s rights tohealth. The sanitary pad incident is recognized as a milestone inKorean menstrual movement, and further studies shall widen thescope of its discussion up to the institutional establishment ofwomen’s menstrual rights.

Our society has already entered into the hyper-old aged, so thepopulation over 65 years old are growing rapidly. Those are in theneed of long-term care for chronic disease like diabetes, high bloodpressure and many kinds of serious disease. Traditionally womenfamily members have served physical and mental care in the house. The government had set the ‘Long-term Care Insurance for theElderly’ and ‘Personalized care service for senior citizens’ toenlarge the care service and to lessen the women family member'sdomestic labour. The government gave the license to private business operators toprovide care service efficiently, market shares of the care taker andfacility were undesiarably increased, also. By virtue of the new market, employment rate of middle-agedwomen has raised and the socialized care service can be used inthe house. But negative effects of pursuing the profit in the privatebusiness field are revealed. Expansion of socialized care service andinstitutionalization of Long-term Care insurance for the Elderly didnot enhance the substantial rights as much. In the blind spot, theneedy person's health conditions are getting worsened. The service for elderly person has restricted in simple level, not served inspecial. As a result, the expansion of simple service made theelderly people uniformed object. Elderly people's suicide caused byeconomic deficiency and loneliness and isolation feeling etc. asreportedly. They were peripheralized from institution of care,ironically. It is required to premise that elderly people have the rights anddemands same as other generations. Though not healthy enough,they have needs of participation at culture and other activities, andright to move. Finding concrete methods to meet the needs of oldpeople is more important than maintaining the rigid and simpleservice.