KJCKorea
Journal Central

This study employed a time-varying effect model (TVEM) and data from the Korean Education Longitudinal Study 2013 (KELS 2013) to analyze the academic trajectories of Korean, English, and mathematics achievement among students from 5th to 9th grade. The research focused on differences between immigrant-background and non-immigrant students across socioeconomic status (SES) groups. TVEM was utilized to capture the dynamic nature of achievement gaps over time, allowing for a detailed examination of how these disparities evolve across educational stages. The results indicate that non-immigrant students generally outperform their immigrant-background peers, with the gaps being most pronounced in higher SES groups. However, in low SES groups, no significant gaps were found in English and mathematics, suggesting that socioeconomic disadvantages may overshadow immigrant background in these areas. Conversely, a persistent gap in Korean language achievement remains among low SES immigrant students. The study concludes by discussing these findings’ implications for policy and practice, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to address the unique challenges faced by immigrant-background students.

This study aimed to identify factors hindering multicultural soldiers’ adaptation to military service and to explore effective management strategies. To achieve this, focus group interviews(FGI) were conducted with five retired Non-commissioned officers. The findings revealed that multicultural soldiers could be categorized into two distinct types. Soldiers who were late entrants to Korea experienced adaptation difficulties due to language barriers and cultural differences, while those who grew up in Korea exhibited similar patterns of adaptation to general soldiers. The proposed management strategies include: ① introducing a Korean language proficiency evaluation and tailored educational programs ② fostering specialized experts for managing multicultural soldiers ③ improving the multicultural awareness of military leaders. This study aims to contribute to the development of policies for managing multicultural soldiers.

This study aims to highlight the necessity of establishing an immigration integration fund in South Korea and propose practical methods for its development. Drawing on existing research regarding immigration integration funds in the European Union, the United States, and Taiwan, it examines these successful international cases and compares them to the context of South Korea. By analyzing these examples, the study identifies key insights that South Korea can adopt to create a phased immigration integration fund tailored to its specific needs. The proposed fund aims to support immigrants in adapting to Korean society more effectively while reducing social conflicts. By incorporating such a fund, the research explores strategies to foster smoother integration and mitigate challenges arising from immigration in South Korea.