The Policy Networks of the Korean International Migration Policy: Using Social Network Analysis

This research adds value to the extant international migration policy studies by placing a greater focus on the ‘processes’ of the Korean international migration policy changes. Specifically, this study pays special attention to policy networks in the process of adopting ing the Employment Permit System for Foreigners (EPSF), one of the most important policy changes in Korean international migration policy history. On the basis of the Advocacy Coalition Framework, this research examines the policy network structure that describes the relationships between policy actors at network levels. The results found that the communication network is more hierarchical than the relational network at the global network level, a government-led advocacy coalition was influential in advocating EPSF at the coalition network, and the coordinating role of policy actors such as Office for Government Policy Coordination and New Millennium Democratic Party was significant in the policy process at the egocentric network level.