Anti-immigration attitudes in a homogeneous society: the case of Korea

Abstract

In Korean society, despite recent immigration policy changes, public attitudes toward foreign-born populations have gradually shifted from generally favorable to increasingly xenophobic. Using data from the World Values Survey, this study examines whether and how anti-immigration attitudes are influenced by different forms of social trust–particularized, generalized and political trust–at both private and public levels. The findings reveal that while generalized trust mitigates anti-immigration attitudes across both spheres, political trust primarily reduces opposition to immigration at the public level. Additionally, the study identifies distinct mechanisms through which perceived economic, socio-cultural and security impacts shape anti-immigration attitudes. Notably, political trust moderates the relationship between perceived security impacts and public opposition to immigration policies. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex role of trust in shaping attitudes toward immigration in an ethnically homogeneous society.