South Korean perceptions of North Korean immigration: evidence from an experimental survey

ABSTRACT What explains the South Korean public’s support for resettlement policies for North Korean arrivals and to what extent does the presentation of this issue influence these perceptions? A crucial and overlooked component of South Korea’s policy towards these North Koreans is the role of public perceptions. We contend that both the gender of the North Korean and the respondent shape perceptions. Via an original experimental web survey, we find a more than ten percentage point decrease in support for aid for North Koreans when the focus is on North Korean men compared to women or no mention of gender. Furthermore, we find lower support overall among female respondents. The results suggest a policy challenge for the South Korean government to meet their goals of integration for these arrivals.