By Lynn Choi American University of Central Asia Published October 4, 2011
The present day, something remarkable phenomenon appears in South Korea that we cannot ignore. It is not hard to see a child of mixed blood in rural areas. For those people who lived in 1980s, 1970s or before, this sight may not be familiar to them because South Korea has been a racially homogeneous nation so far. However, in 2010 according to the Korean Statistical Information Service, the number of children from multiracial family was 30,040, and among them 78.6% are schoolboys and schoolgirls. Pupils who have foreign mother is 27,001, it means 9 people out of 10 live in multicultural family.
“ In fact, after 2005, our country has 13.6% of international marriage from the whole marriage in South Korea. In rural areas there are two international couples out of five” says Heung Soo Chang, a representative of international marriage consulting enterprise Korea Institute of Engineering and Technology “Hwayon”.
The numbers of brides who get married to South Korean men are increasing annually. Korean Statistical Information Service (KSIS) reported that in 2001 – 9,684 people; 2002 – 10,698; 2003 – 18,751; 2004 – 25,105 ... and in 2008 – 28,163 wives. In the past, there was a prejudice in Korea that the intermarriage was one of the projects to find suitable brides for rural bachelor. However, nowadays the understanding of that word has been changed. Also, including TV programs, through medium it is reporting about positive images of multicultural families. And audiences see different looks what brings international marriage.
Women from the Philippine and Vietnam immigrated into South Korea for the marriage a lot. (Philippines – 1,857 brides from 28,163 in 2008, Vietnams – 8,282 from 28,163 in 2008.) The impact of Korean wave was extremely strong. They watched many Korean dramas when they were at their home country. And by looking at TV screen, they imagine their marriage life with a man who is like an actor on the screen. Especially, people who live in outside of the big city have no route to get exact information about South Korea. What they see at the drama is all ‘facts’ about Korea. Therefore, this ‘dramatic delusion’ is the reason which makes international brides to get married to South Korean men.
After studying away from home in North Korea for a long time, a man, Jun Deot Dack (60), who worked at travel agency, said that Vietnam ladies who have poor educational background get married to Koreans by receiving the information from the TV only. And they have one thought: “If I go to South Korea, my life will be better”.
When South Korean government made research in 2005, it was found out that 73% of international brides, who got married through marriage intermediation agency, decided to get international marriage because of economic reason. For now, in most of all rural area it is easy to find international daughters-in-law from China, Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia and so on. And now intermarriage has become a common happy event of the village.
The reality of living in unfamiliar country with a man of other nation breaks all the fancies of being happy. International women face many difficulties and barriers such as language, culture, housekeeping in the home of the husband’s parents, educating children and so on. However, the government does not ignore these people. Many district offices provide various programs for international wives such as learning Korean, making kimchi (Korean salad), keeping house well in the parent-in-law’s house etc.
However, bad effects are also strong in South Korean society. Once ‘international marriage fraud’ had been appeared many times so it became a big problem in diplomacy. Recently, the percentage of divorcing in multicultural family has been increased and ‘separation of families’ raising as serious problem. According to LegalAidCenter the number of calling for divorcing of international couples in 2006 was 6,136, and it was sudden increased last year – 11,245 from the whole population – 50 million.
Like this, the number of international marriage in South Korea increase annually. Although international couples and families have some problems and troubles due to difference in culture, they struggle to live happy, and participate in various programs which the Korean government provides for them. It is not time to point a finger at them, it is time to bless and encourage them.
1. Do you agree that biracial Koreans are victioms of discrimination and social preudice in Korea? If so, why can't Koreans accept them as part of the society?
2. Do you agree that Koreans have an underlying prejudice toward people who are different from they are? If so, why, and how did it all begin? What's the historical reason for it?
3.What is your reaction to the news that 14% of Korean marriages in 2006 were interracial and that 40% of Korean men in the rural areas are marrying foreign women? Tell why you think so.
a. I think it's terrible. It should b e stopped. (How?)
b. That's okay with me. It doesn't matter.
4.DO you think the current trend for Korean men to marry foreign women is hust a fad that will eventually fade away or will it continue? It you think it will stop, what will make it stop? If you think it will continue, how will it change Korean society?
5. Will a multi-racial Korea be a good thing or a bad thing? Tell why you think so.
-- Edited by Hanul on Sunday 13th of January 2013 11:34:28 AM
-- Edited by Hanul on Sunday 13th of January 2013 11:40:41 AM
-- Edited by Hanul on Sunday 13th of January 2013 11:49:37 AM
