미디어를 통한 간접 접촉이 외국인에 의한 범죄 위협 인식에 미치는 영향: 직접 접촉의 조절효과를 중심으로 = The Impact of Indirect Contact Through Media on Perceptions of Crime Threat by Foreigners: Focusing on the Moderating Effect of Direct Contact

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Over the past decade, the number of foreigners migrating to South Korea has steadily increased. Media coverage of foreign-related crimes in Korea often emphasizes the nationality of offenders or highlights their status as undocumented immigrants. Additionally, dramas and films frequently portray undocumented immigrants or migrant workers as drug traffickers or members of criminal organizations. Such media portrayals generalize the image of foreigners as potential offenders, fostering negative perceptions among the local population. This study aimed to investigate whether indirect contact through media influences the perception of foreigners as a criminal threat.
Furthermore, it examined whether such negative perceptions are moderated by direct contact with foreigners. An analysis of 4,569 responses collected from the National Multicultural Acceptance Survey revealed that negative indirect contact with foreigners through mass media increased the likelihood of perceiving foreigners as a crime threat. In contrast, direct contact with foreigners had a statistically significant negative effect on such perceptions.
Specifically, the likelihood of crime threat perceptions decreased when contact occurred through family or neighborly relationships. Additionally, the interaction effect between negative indirect contact and direct contact was significant only in the case of neighbors, while contact with family or acquaintances did not significantly influence the association between negative indirect contact and crime threat perceptions. The perception of crime threat induced by media influence decreased with contact with foreign neighbors.
Based on these findings, implications for multicultural policy directions were discussed.