Globalization and Change of Migration-Related Laws in Korea : Focusing on the Change of Marriage Migration-Related Laws

This article analyzes the changes the Korean government made to its marriage-migration-related laws and then uses these changes as a means to explore the relationship between society and law in the context of globalization. The author’s findings revealed that the changes made to marriage-migration-related laws by the government were a reflection of its response to the recent increase of marriage migration in Korea and the impacts this is consequently having on rapid industrialization, urbanization, and globalization. These changes also showcase the government’s role in making multicultural and social integration policies for marriage migrants. From such changes, the author deduced that the relationship between society and law, at least within the marriage-migration context, is one of a “society first, and law follows” relationship on the one hand, and a “law first, and society follows” relationship on the other.