The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Methods to avoid YouTube, Netflix restrictions go viral

  • 3

    'Dune: Part Two': most challenging but proud work, says director Denis Villeneuve

  • 5

    Korea's exports of dried seaweed hit new record in 2023

  • 7

    Hunting 'crow thief' on Korea's east coast in 1930s

  • 9

    Le Sserafim makes waves with English single 'Perfect Night'

  • 11

    Skepticism mounts over shareholder activism at Samsung C&T

  • 13

    This year's four-character Chinese idiom chosen

  • 15

    'New initiative on NK' lacks balanced strategy: experts

  • 17

    Monthly active users of Instagram, Facebook declining amid fake news, scams

  • 19

    BTS' RM, Jimin, V, Jungkook to enlist in military this week

  • 2

    Anti-dog meat legislation looks doomed as Assembly session ends in vain

  • 4

    N. Korea's fear of external info grows after Seoul allows sending propaganda leaflets

  • 6

    Leaders of Samsung, SK to visit Netherlands for chip alliance

  • 8

    INTERVIEWReform, foreign talent crucial to revitalizing Korean economy: McKinsey

  • 10

    Calls grow for shift from two-party political system

  • 12

    Yoon heads to Netherlands to boost semiconductor cooperation

  • 14

    All BTS members begin military service, talk of group reunion in 2025

  • 16

    Gov't boosts reserves to appease public jitters over urea shortage

  • 18

    Hana Bank hosts foreign exchange quiz for employees

  • 20

    Eximbank teams up with US counterpart on decarbonization

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Tue, December 12, 2023 | 08:12
Multicultural Community
COVID-19 makes life tougher for immigrant workers
Posted : 2020-09-10 17:03
Updated : 2020-09-11 09:16
Kim Se-jeong
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Migrant workers lay bricks at a construction site in Seoul in this undated photo. Korea Times file
Migrant workers lay bricks at a construction site in Seoul in this undated photo. Korea Times file

By Kim Se-jeong

Korea is home to almost 2.5 million people who were born outside the country, with almost half coming from China and Vietnam, followed by the Philippines and Bangladesh.

However, the lives of those coming from developing countries are fragile here. They are usually manual workers with lower wages, and often came to Korea alone to send money back home to support their families. Even for those staying with family in Korea, the money they earn is far from enough to provide them with a decent living.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic which made their lives even more precarious. The Korea Times reached out to a couple of workers from developing countries to hear their stories. All the names have been changed to protect their privacy.

Jose, from the Philippines, used to work at a shipbuilder in Mokpo, but lost his job in July when the company went bankrupt. He used to earn 1.8 million won a month, out of which he sent about 1.4 million back home to Cebu where his wife and daughter live.

He has been without any income for two months; but earlier this week, with the help of a local Korean resident, he was able to sue the company for his unpaid salary and severance pay of about 6 million won.

"My family is now relying on savings. I don't know how long this will last, but I need to earn money again soon to send to them," Jose told The Korea Times during a telephone interview Tuesday. He had a job interview coming up later in the week but wasn't so thrilled. "The company handles oil and chemicals and I am afraid I could get injured at work. But, there aren't so many opportunities right now. So, I will go for the interview and see."

Neil, also from the Philippines, is lucky enough to have a job. He works in Ulsan at a company making machinery that produces auto parts for Hyundai Motor. He is also suffering from the pandemic which has reduced the automobile sales.

"People are staying home and don't buy cars. That means we don't do so much work." He used to earn 2.4 million won per month on average when things were good, but now is paid only 1.8 million. He keeps about 500,000 won for himself and sends the rest back home to Bicol to support his family. "We've got a mortgage and other spending and 1.3 million won isn't enough."

Cao is an ethnic Korean from China. She and her family moved to Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, eight years ago. But, her husband died a few years back and now she is the breadwinner for the family. She works at a factory that assembles phone batteries and gets paid by the hours on minimum wage. Although her company hasn't been shut down by the pandemic, she lost all her overtime hours which badly reduced the amount of money she takes home.

"I am worried but at the same time, I think things will be alright," she said during a phone interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday.

But she can't stop worrying about her two children who are staying home. "My first daughter takes online classes. But honestly, I don't know if she's catching up with school," she said. Cao is not in a position to help her daughter because she has to work and doesn't speak the language fluently.

The experience of Alexandr offers a unique glimpse into the life of an immigrant family which is strongly affected by the pandemic.

Born in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the 18-year-old moved to Korea with his parents and his older brother. In July, he and his family traveled back home to change their visa status. What was supposed to be a one-month-long trip made them into nomads as the Korean Embassy in Almaty was closed due to the pandemic.

"It's still closed, and we don't know when it will open back up," the boy said. Luckily, they had a place to stay in Kazakhstan, but the family members are simply waiting to get back to Korea without knowing when.

What keeps Alexandr busy is his school work. From Monday to Friday, he wakes up at 6 a.m. to take online classes offered by his Korean high school in Ansan.

"I want to go back to Korea soon so that I can meet my friends and hang out with them."



Emailskim@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
LG group
Top 10 Stories
1[INTERVIEW] Reform, foreign talent crucial to revitalizing Korean economy: McKinsey INTERVIEWReform, foreign talent crucial to revitalizing Korean economy: McKinsey
2This year's four-character Chinese idiom chosen This year's four-character Chinese idiom chosen
3[INTERVIEW] Allgot hits jackpot with frozen gimbap in US INTERVIEWAllgot hits jackpot with frozen gimbap in US
4Korea considers producing urea as China curbs exports Korea considers producing urea as China curbs exports
5[INTERVIEW] Korea, Netherlands to sign multiple deals in chip, energy, defense on Yoon's state visit: Dutch ambassadorINTERVIEWKorea, Netherlands to sign multiple deals in chip, energy, defense on Yoon's state visit: Dutch ambassador
6Digital Chosun Releases Enhanced TOEFL Practice Online (TPO) Digital Chosun Releases Enhanced TOEFL Practice Online (TPO)
7A glimpse inside Boeing's P-8 manufacturing plant A glimpse inside Boeing's P-8 manufacturing plant
8Deadly cost of slips of the tongue in N. Korea Deadly cost of slips of the tongue in N. Korea
9Indian embassy showcases rich culinary traditions, flavors Indian embassy showcases rich culinary traditions, flavors
10Representative 'kimchi coin' Wemix makes comeback amid ongoing scandals Representative 'kimchi coin' Wemix makes comeback amid ongoing scandals
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Le Sserafim makes waves with English single 'Perfect Night' Le Sserafim makes waves with English single 'Perfect Night'
2All BTS members begin military service, talk of group reunion in 2025 All BTS members begin military service, talk of group reunion in 2025
3'Dune: Part Two': most challenging but proud work, says director Denis Villeneuve 'Dune: Part Two': most challenging but proud work, says director Denis Villeneuve
4Kohei Nawa goes 'cosmic' in his disturbingly mesmerizing world Kohei Nawa goes 'cosmic' in his disturbingly mesmerizing world
5[INTERVIEW] How AmazeVR revolutionizes aespa's LYNK-POP concert INTERVIEWHow AmazeVR revolutionizes aespa's LYNK-POP concert
DARKROOM
  • It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

    It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

  • 2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

    2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

  • Appreciation of autumn colors

    Appreciation of autumn colors

  • Our children deserve better

    Our children deserve better

  • Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

    Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel: 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844
Date of registration: 2020.02.05
Masthead: The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group