This article analyzes migrant associations as institutions of collective representation in contemporary host societies. Using the case of Russian-speaking Koreans (Koryo-saram) in the Republic of Korea, the article examines the institutional functions of diaspora organizations in the context of the limited political agency of migrant communities. It is shown that the Koryo-saram Association in the Republic of Korea serves as a mechanism for articulating group interests, mediating between the state and the migrant community, and serving as a platform for social mobilization and integration. Key structural issues affecting the Koryo-saram are analyzed, including legal status, labor market segmentation, language barriers, and educational challenges for the second generation. Particular attention is paid to the role of diaspora civil institutions in shaping channels of public dialogue and the participation of migrant communities in the development of integration policies. It is concluded that the development of institutional forms of collective representation is an important condition for the transition from a model of unilateral adaptation of migrants to a model of partner participation of the diaspora in the social and political governance of the host society.
migrant associations; collective representation; Koryo-saram; diaspora; Korei; social integration; migration policy; Republic of Korea.