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The JNU Tamna Culture Research Institute (JNU TCRI), under the direction of Professor Kim Chi-wan from JNU's Department of Philosophy, held a joint academic conference with the Korean Immigration Policy Association, led by President Lim Dong-jin, a professor of public administration at Soonchunhyang University. The event took place on August 20 at Bihyeon Hall, located within the College of Humanities at Jeju National University.

The conference commenced with opening remarks by Lim Dong-jin, President of the Korean Immigration Policy Association, followed by a welcoming address by Kim Chi-wan, Director of the Tamna Cultural Institute. Among the distinguished guests were Oh Young-hoon, Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province; Kang Hee-kyung, Head of Jeju National University's Education Division; Bae Sang-up, Head of the Immigration and Foreign Policy Division; and Yang Deok-soon, Head of the Jeju Institute.

Governor Oh Young-hoon expressed his hope that the conference would serve as a foundation for creating a Jeju that is more appealing for foreigners to reside in, emphasizing that Jeju Special Self-Governing Province is eager to consider the valuable advice from scholars.

Bae Sang-up, Head of the Immigration and Foreign Policy Division at the Ministry of Justice, noted that the Ministry plans to advance beyond the current regionally-focused immigration policy by integrating various community demands into policies such as visa regulations.

The keynote address was delivered by Cho Dong-sung, former president of Incheon National University and chairman of the Institute for Industrial Policy. He presented five research findings on immigration policy, focusing on economic, institutional, and normative aspects, starting with 'AI and Management'. This was followed by a designated discussion led by Lee Yong-ho, Head of the Jeju Immigration and Foreigners Agency.

Subsequent to the keynote, the conference continued with a series of in-depth discussions. Executives from the Korean Immigration Policy Association and field experts engaged in a lively debate on 'Jeju-type Foreign Policy Tasks and Development Directions,' chaired by JNU Professor Seo Young-pyo of the Sociology Department.

President Lim Dong-jin remarked on the depth of the discussions, which covered a wide range of topics, including international student policies, the visa-free entry system, the foreign agricultural workforce in Jeju, and the use of big data in immigration administration. He expressed optimism about finding practical and productive solutions in the future.

Director Kim Chi-wan of JNU TCRI shared his anticipation for future collaborations with the Korean Immigration Policy Association, stating, "Based on the diverse discussions at this joint academic conference, we look forward to launching a collaborative initiative with the Association." He also extended his gratitude to Governor Oh Young-hoon for his commitment to fostering a win-win relationship through the establishment of a network among industrial, academic, and research institutes in the region. Kim concluded by requesting continued support from the Jeju community.

The joint academic conference was organized under the auspices of JNU’s Development Project, which includes the ‘Kumda: Jeju Regional Multicultural Coexistence Governance Construction Project’ and the ‘History of Jeju Island and Refugees’ initiative, supported by the Humanities and Social Research Institute Support Project.

Since being selected as a recipient of the Humanities and Social Research Institute Support Project in 2019, the JNU Tamna Culture Research Institute has established a refugee research network and has actively developed projects to disseminate and share its research findings.