Abstract
Despite growing interest in paradiplomacy, the role of cities in advancing migrant protection norms remained underexplored. This study examined how the South Korean cities of Ansan, Busan, and Incheon functioned as norm bearing actors in migration governance through subnational cooperation with Indonesian local governments. The study was important because it explored how cities contributed to the localization and implementation of migrant protection beyond state centered approaches. A qualitative case study approach was employed using policy documents, municipal government reports, migrant support center publications, and secondary institutional sources from Indonesia and South Korea. The analysis examined how international migrant protection principles were interpreted and translated into local governance practices. The findings identified three interconnected dimensions of city level action. First, the cities recognized migrants as rights bearing residents rather than temporary workers. Second, they established localized support mechanisms, including multilingual counseling, healthcare services, and community-based welfare programs. Third, they strengthened migrant protection through intercity cooperation and transnational policy learning. The study concluded that South Korean cities contributed to migrant protection by embedding international norms into local governance despite their limited formal authority. Their role complemented national migration policies while demonstrating the growing importance of subnational actors in multilevel migration governance.