National Pride, a Key Moderator of the Relationship between Positive Media Contact, Multicultural Activities, and Perceived Threat of the Impact Foreign Workers Have on Korean Jobs

BACKGROUND: The number of foreign workers is growing in South Korea. There are 18,212 more foreign workers in 2020 compared to that of 2012. However, according to the ‘National multicultural acceptance survey’ conducted in 2018, 33% of respondents answered that ‘foreign workers are a threat to Korean jobs.’ This study aimed to find the determinants that could affect public’s perception towards foreign workers in Korea and seek ways to eventually reduce the discrimination against foreign workers.

METHOD: This study utilized data from a nationwide survey in Korea delivered by Korean Women Development Institute and Ministry of Gender Equality. The data were selected via multi-stage probability sampling procedure, proportional by region, gender, and age in accordance with 2016 Korean Census data. A total of 4,000 participants were selected for this study. The dependent variable is the perceived threat of the impact foreign workers have on Korean jobs. The variable is consisted with four questions, which were rated on 5-point Likert type scale. The first independent variable is exposure to positive media depictions of foreign workers, and each item (7 in total) was rated on 5-point Likert type scale. Another independent variable is frequency of participation in multicultural activities. The variable measures how frequently the participant took part in festivals, events, and volunteer activities with/for foreigners. A 4-point Likert type scale was used. The moderator is the level of national pride (how proud the participant is to be a Korean), asking the participant to rate it from 1 (not proud at all) to 4 (very proud). For the analysis Baron & Kenney’s moderator effect test method was used.

RESULTS: The regression analysis indicated that there is a significant negative relationship between the exposure to positive media and the perceived threat of the impact foreign workers have on Korean jobs (Coef. = -.120, p <0.001). There was also a statistically significant negative relationship between the frequency of participation in multicultural activities and the perceived threat of the impact foreign workers have on Korean jobs (Coef. = -.183, p <0.01). The national pride variable moderated the negative relationship between the frequency of participation in multicultural activities and the perceived threat of the impact foreign workers have on Korean jobs (Coef. = -.372, p <0.01). In detail, the higher the level of national pride, the weaker the negative relationship between frequency of participation in multicultural activities and the perceived threat of the impact foreign workers have on Korean jobs.

IMPLICATIONS: The results showed that exposure to positive media and participation in multicultural activities can lower the perceived threat of the impact foreign workers have on Korean jobs. In a circumstance where the number of foreign workers is growing in South Korea, the study’s results imply that the role of the media and multicultural activities is crucial in building an inclusive society. More importantly, the study entails even given lower multicultural activities among South Korean population, which could result in hostility to foreign workers, the national pride can be the key to reduce hostility against.