코로나19와 중남미 한인사회: 멕시코와 브라질의 경험

Abstract

This article analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on Korean communities in Mexico and Brazil. In Mexico, the population of permanent residents did not decrease significantly, but in Brazil, close to 20,000 Koreans migrated to other countries. It seems that Koreans in Brazil who are mainly engaged in the clothing industry have relocated to other countries after giving up their business due to the long-term lockdown and the recession in the clothing industry. Also, inequality among Koreans has deepened. Accordingly, the Korean Association and other Korean organizations actively donated to help Koreans. The participation of young generation who were passive in the activities of the Korean Association increased, and the solidarity and cooperation formed in the process of overcoming the crisis became an opportunity for the Korean community to take another leap forward. In particular, they actively cooperated with the Korean embassy in the delivery of quarantine supplies by the government, donations to local communities, and diaspora public diplomacy on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of immigration. This is an example of how diaspora, our diplomatic asset, can become a main actor of public diplomacy.