모호한 경계, 전가된 희생 : 제주지역 네팔이주노동자의 건강행동과 사회문화적 역학관계

This article is about health behavior and socio-cultural dynamics of Nepalese migrant workers in Jeju, South Korea. This paper examines how these migrant workers manage and maintain health statuses. Many studies have collected objective data to present poor health conditions among Nepalese migrant workers. However, this article highlights the health status and management focusing on the various social networks. Health cannot be explained with physical and psychological statuses. Rather it requires to understand contexts of sociocultural factors and social environment where migrant’s past and contemporary experiences are shaped. Thus, this research suggests consideration of interdependency among distinctive sociocultural factors such as geographic location, working environment, relationship with employees, coworkers, as well as Nepalese communities and family at home country. By doing so, complex relationship of health status and management of Nepalese workers will be understood. Considering these structural problems, this article maintains that legal/institutional systems to maintain their basic social rights (including health right) should be guaranteed for migrant workers in South Korea.