KJCKorea
Journal Central

We investigated the challenges faced by internationally trained immigrants’ (ITIs) social and cultural integration in Northern Ontario, Canada. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with 74 ITIs, immigrated to Canada within the past 10 years and living in a Northern Ontario community for a minimum of six months. Results show their eexpectation prior to arrival in Canada were overly optimistic, based on word-of-mouth referrals from friends, family, and former immigrants but underestimated the requirement for Canadian credentials and lacked preparedness for social integration, language skills, cultural awareness and networks. Perceptions reported include greater access to transportation, language training, employment and settlement services for newcomers was required in Northern Ontario as compared to larger cities. Participants felt they were better able to integrate when they prepared from their home country, attended a Canadian educational institution, or had a network of family and friends for support. Findings have policy relevance at the federal, provincial and community level and may be extended to other Canadian cities

This paper shows a scoping review of the Canada-focused social sciences articles published through the Korea Citation Index (KCI) journals for the last 20 years; it mapped out a broad field of evidence on Canadian studies in the KCI social sciences domain, thereby identifying critical research gaps within the bilateral academic collaboration. Using a descriptive coding technique of ChatGPT 4o, a Generative Artificial Intelligence service, this scoping review classified 211 KCI articles, followed by analyzing 15 attributes of the selected literature. As such, it unearthed from the knowledge synthesis that (i) Korean authors overwhelmingly led Canada related studies by a single research form, with limited international collaboration; (ii) Overall topics shifted from free trade-centered issues to multiculturalism, education, criminal, and climate challenges; (iii) publications predominantly used the Korean language and descriptive methods, limiting global academic visibility; and (iv) major knowledge gaps were identified in indigenous issues, Francophone perspectives, immigrant voices, and policy feedback analyses. This study may contribute to more prosperous scholarly activities of Canada-related social science researchers/ practitioners in the Canadian-Korean context.

The contemporary evolution of Canada–Mexico relations is the focus of this article, which includes an examination of diplomatic agreements characterized by close cooperation, recent policy initiatives, and institutional mechanisms. It also explores how economic interdependence and labor migration have become central to these bilateral relations. Recently, in reaction to the one-sided trade related pressures from the United States, during the second Donald Trump administration, the alliance has strengthened through the Canada-Mexico Action Plan 2025–2028, which formalizes collaboration across four key areas: wealth; movement, inclusivity, and well-being; security; and environment and sustainability. The article argues that Canada–Mexico relations must be understood not only from a bilateral perspective but also from a North American approach. This article contributes to the understanding of how mid level powers construct strategic partnerships in an emerging global order.