WILAYAH: The International Journal of East Asian Studies

Explaining North Korea’s Abandonment of Korean Unification: External Pressures and Domestic Political Dynamics

Salma Putri Manora — 2026-03-31

The process of unifying the Korean Peninsula is an effort to reduce the escalation of violence and increase regional stability through increased interaction between North Korea and South Korea. Previously, this framework was also reflected in the Inter-Korea Basic Agreement of 1991 as the normative basis for peaceful unification by the two countries. However, the dynamics of inter-Korea relations underwent significant changes in 2024, especially when North Korea officially declared that it would no longer pursue the unification agenda. Therefore, this study aims to analyze North Korea’s policy change from a neoclassical realism perspective, employing qualitative methods on document and archival analysis. The findings indicate that North Korea’s shift in its attitude towards South Korea was influenced by external and domestic factors. Externally, fluctuations in South Korea’s policy, the involvement of the United States and Russia in regional security issues, played an important role in North Korea’s strategic calculations. Meanwhile, at the domestic level, Kim Jong Un's effort to strengthen his legitimacy and consolidate power also shaped the direction of North Korea’s unification policy.

Structural Constraints on Female Labor: Gender Inequality in South Korea's Private Sector from 2015-Present

Soo Yee Oon — 2026-03-31

Despite sustained policy efforts to promote gender equality, significant gender imbalance persists in South Korea’s labour market, particularly within the private sector. This study examines determinants in female labour force participation in South Korea’s private sector from 2015 to the present, focusing on employment stability, wage disparities, managerial representation, and age-specific participation patterns. Drawing on gender stratification theory, the study analyses how social norms and institutional practices jointly shape women’s labour market outcomes. Using national labour statistics, the analysis reveals three key findings. First, substantial gender wage gaps persist across both regular and irregular employment, despite similar working days between women and men. Second, women remain significantly underrepresented in managerial and executive positions, even as participation in professional and service occupations has increased. Third, female employment follows a pronounced life-course pattern, with sharp declines during childbearing years and partial recovery at later ages, reinforcing cumulative career disadvantages. These findings suggest that rising female labour force participation has not translated into equitable employment outcomes. Instead, gender inequality is reproduced through labour market segmentation, weak enforcement of equality legislation, and persistent gendered expectations surrounding caregiving responsibilities. By focusing explicitly on the private sector and recent labour market trends, this study contributes updated empirical evidence and a structural explanation for the persistence of gender imbalance in South Korea’s labour market. The findings underscore the need for policy interventions that prioritize employment quality, effective enforcement, and institutional reform alongside participation rates.

Indonesian Muslim Women Workers in Contemporary Japanese Workplaces

Amira Astari Arfel — 2026-03-31

This article examines the experiences of Indonesian Muslim Women working in contemporary Japanese workplaces, focused on how their religious identity is constrained within gendered and migration-based employment structures. Using an intersectionality framework, the study analyzed the intersection of religion, gender, and migration status in the workplace. At the subjective level, the analysis combined a self-concept perspective to explain how the participants interpreted and negotiated their professional and religious identities. Based on in-depth interviews with five Indonesian Muslim Women employed in the academic, hospitality, and sending-organization (組合Kumiai) sectors in Sendai, Gunma, Chiba, and Shiga cities, the findings demonstrated that spirituality practices are economized through continuous negotiation. Decisions regarding hijab use reflected individual agency and self-reflexivity, while the Engineer, Specialist in Humanities, and International Services (技人国ビザ Gijinkoku Biza) visa operated as a strategic resource for workplace adaptation. The article emphasizes the importance of considering religion as a critical analytical dimension in labor and migration studies in East Asia.

Coping Strategies of Indonesian Technical Intern Trainees in the Construction Sector of Aichi Prefecture

Muhammad Hanafi Gunawan — 2026-03-31

The Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) is a common scheme for Indonesian trainees to enter Japan. Among the various employment sectors, the construction sector has high work demands and safety risks. TITP trainees often face problems when entering actual working conditions due to inadequate pre-departure preparation and field requirements. This study aims to describe the problems faced by Indonesian TITP in the construction sector in Aichi Prefecture and the coping strategies they have developed. Qualitative method are used through literature review and in-depth interviews. The analysis is conducted from a coping strategies perspective, which examines the efforts individuals make to manage the demands or pressures they face. The results of the study show that trainees face language barriers, work pressure, and vulnerable work positions. To cope with these conditions, trainees develop coping strategies through self-directed learning, social network support, and adaptation to local work models.

The Cultural Penetration and Sociocultural Impact of Anime Among Chinese Young People

Jingwen Liu — 2026-03-31

Anime has penetrated into the daily life of Chinese young people in a form of cross-cultural communication. The existing research is insufficient in systematically exploring the cultural penetration and influence of anime on Chinese youth. There are problems such as a single perspective and method limitations. In order to explore the multi-dimensional effect of anime among Chinese youth, this study analyses the impact of anime on Chinese youth in terms of cultural identity, values, personal development, and social behaviour by integrating and reviewing literature research. The study found that its impact shows significant duality. On the one hand, it can promote cross-cultural understanding and individual identity expression, and on the other hand, it may cause risks such as conflict of values and violent behaviour, bringing new challenges to the education and guidance of Chinese young people. At the same time, this study also points out the limitations of previous research in terms of theoretical depth and sample representativeness, and hopes that future research can be improved in terms of research methods and design.