Encompassing Indonesian Diaspora in South-Korea

2014-ISJ-004-00074

ENCOMPASSING INDONESIAN DIASPORA IN SOUTH KOREA Resa Rasyidah, M.Hub.Int, Adiasri Putri Purbantina, M.Si, and Praja Firdaus N., S.Hub.Int Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jawa Timur, Surabaya Abstract. This paper describes the contemporary condition of Indonesian diaspora in South Korea and examine it with the prospect of digitalization of Indonesian diaspora. Since the shifting of Indonesian diaspora, from slavery-centric overseas to social empowerment-centric overseas, Indonesia has gain more than before from the Indonesian diaspora. The initiaton of creating Indonesian diaspora congress and Indonesia Diaspora Network Global has given a new strength in Indonesian diaspora, including networking, digitalization, and communication intensifying. In South Korea, the Indonesia diaspora discourse still stuck in the workforce or labor-centric diaspora. This brings Indonesian diaspora in South Korea a steady pace of improvement. It is proved by the increasing number of illegal Indonesian diaspora in South Korea. On the other hand, the legal Indonesian diaspora in South Korea is also increasing too. This paper suggests that this remaining condition of Indonesian diaspora in South Korea will gradually change. First, by imposing digital diaspora, Indonesian diaspora will enhance wired-diasporic movement rapidly. Second, there are growing consciousness about giving contribution to home country by Indonesian diaspora as well. These two arguments are important considering that the new generation of Indonesian diaspora is not settle yet. That Indonesian diaspora in South Korea will gradually change, by number and by discourse in it, and it is positively important for both South Korea and Indonesia. Keywords: Indonesia, South Korea, diaspora, digital, generation

A. INTRODUCTION People who lived in Indonesia, even before the state itself was created and the independence was announced in 1945, had already been dispersed in many regions. The old Indonesian diaspora people went to regions such as New Caledonia, Australia, Suriname (Netherland), Madagascar, and Sri Lanka. 1 Some explanations were used to explain the old Indonesian diaspora. It was told that Indonesian people went to the other regions in the purpose of seeking new lands. For the case of Suriname, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka, it was slavery by Netherland which brought Indonesian diaspora to these countries.2 The year of 2012 had marked the rise of new Indonesian diaspora wave. Indonesian diaspora ranging around 2000 people from 21 countries were gathered in Los Angeles, USA, in an event called Indonesian Diaspora Congress and announced The Declaration of Indonesian Diaspora. In the August 2013, the second congress was held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The second congress successfully built the Indonesian Diaspora Network-Global (IDN-G), an institution accommodated the programs of Indonesian diaspora. The programs itself varied from philanthropy to synergic partnership. The IDN-G, as institution, is also hosted a website, www.indonesiadiaspora.org, as a tool to promote and gather the aspiration of Indonesian diaspora.

1

Indra Sastrawat, 2013. Diaspora Orang Indonesia (Bagian 1), http://sejarah.kompasiana.com/2013/09/10/diaspora-orang-indonesia-bagian-i588400.html accessed on January 15th, 2014. 2 Jodhi Yudono, 2013. Kisah Para Pengembara, http://nasional.kompas.com/read/2013/08/20/2024240/Kisah.Para.Pengembara accessed on May 24th, 2014.

This new wave of Indonesian diaspora has revealed information about the positive contributions to Indonesia as the home country. In 2011, Indonesian diaspora had contributed US$ 7 million to the income of Indonesia. 3 Ranging from 2011 until in the middle of 2013, Indonesian diaspora had transferred around IDR 69,4 billion, annually. 4 Specifically, in 2013 the remittance came from the Indonesian diaspora working in Malaysia was US$ 256.199.843 million. On the other hand but in the same year, remittance from Indonesian diaspora working in Saudi Arabia was US$ 1.718.306.709 million. Malaysia and Saudi Arabia are two countries which have many Indonesian diaspora live there.5 It is shown as in the chart below.

3

Anon, 2013. Kontribusi Diaspora Indonesia bagi Tanah Air Signifikan, https://indonesian.irib.ir/cakrawala-indonesia//asset_publisher/eKa6/content/kontribusi-diaspora-indonesia-bagi-tanah-airsignifikan, accessed on January 15th, 2014. 4 Congress of Indonesian Diaspora, 2013. Kongres Diaspora Indonesia II (2nd Congress of Indonesian Diaspora) – “Pulang Kampung”. http://www.indonesiandiaspora.com.au/documents/44299/46547/CID+Present ation+by+Ibu+Vivi/27cffe73-b9b1-4eef-bb94-6391142080bf?version=1.0 accessed on January 15th, 2014. 5 Yogi Gustaman, 2013. Tahun Ini Keringat Para TKI Hasilkan Uang Masuk ke Indonesia Rp. 81,34 T, http://www.tribunnews.com/nasional/2013/12/25/tahun-ini-keringat-para-tkihasilkan-uang-masuk-ke-indonesia-rp-8134-t, accessed on April 4th, 2014

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Figure 1. The dispersion of Indonesian diaspora in 20136

In the discourse of diaspora, transnationalism, and the development of home country, Giles Mohan stated that there are at least three kind of conditions made by diaspora to the development of the home country, they are (1) development in diaspora, (2) development by diaspora, and (3) development through diaspora.7 Indonesian diaspora in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia were the example of development in diaspora. But, what about Indonesian diaspora in South Korea? Thus, this paper will explain in which category Indonesian diaspora in South Korea is. This paper also explore the development of Indonesian diaspora in South Korea and the potentials made by the new generation of Indonesian diaspora.

B. INDONESIAN DIASPORA: ON THE PROSPECT OF DIGITAL DIASPORA AND SOUTH KOREA 1. Indonesian Diaspora and Digital Diaspora Diaspora, for a long time, referred only to physically scattered religious groups (peoples, churches, or congregations) living as minorities among other people and other faiths. 8 The term “diaspora” now is applied to groups as disparate as „„expatriates, expellees, political refugees, alien residents, immigrants and ethnic and racial minorities tout court‟‟.9 It can define as those migrant groups who share dispersion across socio-cultural boundaries and at least one political border; a collective memory and myth about the homeland, created and recreated across distances and generations; a commitment to keeping the homeland – imagined or otherwise – alive through symbolic and purposive expression in the host-land and/or in the homeland; the presence of the issue of return; and a diasporic consciousness and associated identity hybridity, expressed, in part, through the creation of diaspora 6

Anon, 2013. Indonesian Diaspora, http://www.globalindonesianvoices.com/wordpress/wpcontent/uploads/2013/0 5/IndonesianDiaspora_fromWiki.jpg, accessed on April 2nd, 2014 7 Rubin Petterson, 2006. “Transnationalism: Diaspora-Homeland Development”, in Social Forces 84(4). 8 Stephane Dufoix, 2008. Diasporas. Los Angeles: University of California Press. 9 Jennifer M. Brinkerhoff, 2009. Digital Diasporas: Identity and Transnational Engagement. New York: Cambridge University Press. p.30-31

associations or organizations.10 Along with the development of technology, diaspora were also progressing into digital diaspora. Generally, there are three category of Indonesian diaspora according to Mohamad Al-Arief, the President of Diaspora Indonesia. 11 First, the Indonesia citizens who live in foreign countries. Second, the Indonesian descent. Third, foreign people who love Indonesia culture and heritage. According to Dino Patti Jallal, The Indonesian Ambassador for United States, there are about 4.5 million Indonesian citizens who have Indonesian passport.12 But, there are also approximately 1.6 million Indonesian citizen who have Indonesian passport yet expired visa.13 Technology virtually connecting diasporas at the local and global level. Digital diaspora reflects the engagement of its members in activities related to information technology. 14 A digital diaspora (also known as an „e-diaspora‟ or „virtual diaspora‟) is an electronic migrant community whose interactions are made possible through „new‟ technologies of communication. 15 Historically, the emergence of digital diasporas occurred in tandem with the development of and increased access to online public content and mobile phones.16 However, the widespread growth of social-networking platforms over the last ten years has resulted in a different kind of diasporic connectivity, one that is facilitated first and foremost via the Internet. 17 Virtual diaspora is the cyberexpansion of real diaspora. No virtual diaspora can be sustained without real-life diasporas, and in this sense it is not a separate entity, but rather a pole of continuum. 18 As for Indonesia, the development of diaspora have been greatly helped by digital diaspora or virtual diaspora. One of the example of digital diaspora is the creation of IDN-G by Indonesian diaspora in 2013. This cyber-space helped Indonesian diaspora to organize the movement they initiate.

2. Indonesian Diaspora in South Korea Indonesian diaspora in South Korea has been highly related with the Indonesian migrant workers. The numbers of Indonesian who came to Korea has been increasing over the 10

Ibid. p.31 Denny Armandhanu dan Santi Dewi, 2013. Jasa Diaspora Indonesia, http://fokus.news.viva.co.id/news/read/437813-jasa-diaspora-indonesia, accessed on May 24th 2014 12 Jacky Mussry, 2013. Diaspora Aset Masa Depan Bagi Indonesia, http://www.diasporaindonesia.org/news/pdf/Diaspora%20Article%201.pdf, accessed on May 24th 2013 13 Ibid. 14 Michel S. Laguerre, 2010. “Diasporas in the New Media Age: Identity, Politics, and Community”, in Diasporas in the New Media Age: Identity, Politics, and Community, edited by Andoni Alonso and Pedro J. Oiarzabal. Reno: University of Nevada Press. p.49 15 Nadia Swaby, 2013. Digital Diaspora, http://www.itncohab.eu/wiki/digital-diaspora accesed on May 24th, 2014. 16 Ibid. 17 Ibid. 18 Michel S. Laguerre, 2010. “Diasporas in the New Media Age: Identity, Politics, and Community”, in Diasporas in the New Media Age: Identity, Politics, and Community, edited by Andoni Alonso and Pedro J. Oiarzabal. University of Nevada Press: Reno. p.49 11

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last four years. Based on the data from Korea Immigration Service Ministry of Justice (KIS) Statistic, Indonesian who came to South Korea has various purposes. Most of them came for vacational purpose using tourist visa. Some of them came for bussiness and diplomatic purposes. But, from those recent statistics (2009-2013), a steady increase continues to happen in the employment sector, both from proffesional and nonproffesional sectors.

Figure 5. Indonesian Illegal Residence as “Non-Professional Employment” (2009-2012)22

Figure 2. Indonesian Legal Residences in South Korea (2009-2012)19

Figure 3. Indonesian Illegal Residences in South Korea (2009-2012)20

Figure 4. Indonesian Legal Residences in South Korea by Visa Types (2009-2012)21

As a country entered rapid economic growth, the unwillingness to work in the 3-D job sector (dirty, difficult, and dangerous jobs) appeared and created a room for a foreign workforce. South Korea is one of those countries. Since its rapid economic growth in the late 1980‟s, South Korea has been gradually depending on migrant workers and according to UN report, South Korea will need to import 100,000 workers every year and a total of 1.5 million migrant workers between 2030 and 2050 to maintain a similar economic structure and to support senior populations. 23 Korea has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with 15 partner countries from where labor is imported. South Korea has concluded MOUs on the Entry Permit System with the following 15 countries: 1. Vietnam; 2. Philippines; 3. Indonesia; 4. Thailand; 5. Sri Lanka; 6. Mongolia; 7. Uzbekistan; 8. Bangladesh; 9. Cambodia; 10. Nepal; 11. Pakistan; 12. Myanmar; 13. East Timor; 14. Kyrgyzstan; 15. China. 24 Indonesia is one of the countries who have been sending a significant number of migrant workers. In 2013, there are 9.387 Indonesians who were accepted to work in South Korea. 25 According to National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Workers (BNP2TKI), in this past 10 years (2004-2014), there are 50.538 Indonesians who have worked in South Korea and compared to Indonesian migrant workers in other countries, such as Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, who has been frequently experience some abuses and some who even killed, there are almost no reports of violence against them in South Korea.26 According to the Korean Immigration Service (KIS) Statistics, the number of Indonesian who came to South Korea has been increasing from 2009-2012, especially those who entered South Korea for business and working purpose. The increasing in number also happened illegally. In 2012, there are 4.744 Indonesian who entered South Korea illegally to work. Based on the data from Korean immigration office, foreign workers in Korea include highly-skilled, the low or 22

Ibid. Sarah Hasan, n.d. Labour Migration to South Korea: Policies and Problem Related to Illegal Workers. The Academy of Korean Studies. 24 Ibid. 25 Jakarta Globe, 2014. Indonesian Migrant Workers Best’: South Korea, http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/indonesian-migrant-workers-best-...1 accessed May 17th, 2014. 26 Ibid. 23

19

Korea Immigration Service Ministry of Justice, 2009-2012. KIS Statistic 2009-2012. Seoul: Korea Immigration Service Ministry of Justice. 20 Ibid. 21 Ibid.

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unskilled, and illegal workers, that can be further divided into the Employment Permit System (EPS), the Visitor Employment System (VES), marriage migrants, short-term employees and illegal foreign workers. 27 According to a dissertation by Nidya Kartikasari (GRIPS 2013), South Korea has been one of the favored destinations of Indonesian migrant workers because of the higher salaries.Indonesian migrant workers in South Korea are paid approximately IDR 26 million (US$ 2.200) per month.28 Since August 2004, Indonesia started sending workers to South Korea under the EPS, but the labor relations between Indonesia and Korea were already officially established in 1994, which has contributed to the increased number of Indonesian residents in South Korea. 29 Under the EPES, migrant worker can work for up to four years and ten months in South Korea and Indonesian low-skilled workers in South Korea mostly live around metropolitan, which are heavily industrialized areas such as Soul, Gyeonggi province, and Incheon.30

C. CONCLUSIONS Indonesia has a long story about diaspora and transnationalism. The old wave of Indonesian diaspora was dictated by slavery and workforce. Hereby many people originally came from Indonesia then dispersed overseas, e.g Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and Suriname. Then in recent years, starting from 2012 in Los Angeles, Indonesian diaspora initiate a new wave of diaspora. They initiate Indonesian Diaspora Congress to gather many Indonesian diaspora and contribute in a more organized way. This new movement of Indonesian diaspora also created a digital linkage called Indonesia Diaspora Network Global (IDN-G). This type of digital diaspora differs the old and the new wave of Indonesian diaspora. Nowadays, although workforce still dominates the discourse of Indonesian diaspora and transnationalism, Indonesian diaspora are varied, ranging from purpose of living abroad to how they communicate each other and communicate to the people in their home country, Indonesia. Meanwhile, Indonesian diaspora in South Korea still in the old wave of Indonesian diaspora generation. This means Indonesian diaspora in South Korea is the type of “development in diaspora”. The main reason of this is that the diaspora in South Korea itself is still narrowly defined as labour or workforce. But, this kind of condition will change gradually. Since Indonesian diaspora are digitalized, the digital diaspora are going to change the modes of communication between person to person, person to community, person to state, and even the communication between Indonesian diaspora in South Korea and its homeland, Indonesia. REFERENCES 27

Sarah Hasan. Loc.cit. Jakarta Globe. Loc.cit. 29 Nidya Kartikasari, 2013. Effects on Labour Immigration Policies on Indonesian Migrant Workers in Japan and South Korea. Faculty of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (Dissertation). 30 Ibid. 28

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