“Mongolians can find their feet anywhere, except in Mongolia”: Mongolian aspirations and the moral value of migrant labour in Korea

Abstract

This article draws on the narratives of Mongolians who have worked in Korea to explore the experience of migrant labour and the role work abroad plays in Mongolian identities and life projects. Four different categories of worker are discussed: those working on 3 month visas; those working illegally having overstayed their visa; contract workers; and workers on student visas. Noting that so many narratives valorise the migrant work ethic and highlight the value given to their labour, we argue that migrants seek not only financial opportunities but also the opportunity to articulate nomadic values and prove their moral worth as Mongolians in ways that may appear restricted within Mongolia itself.