Multi-Cultural Families from International Marriage and Current Family Policies in Korea

Presented at the 33rd Global Conference of ICSW June 30th - July 4h, 2008; Tours, France

by

Yun-Soon Koh Nam-Soon Huh Il-Young Koh

Dept. of Social Welfare Hallym University, Korea

Content of Presentation
Introduction

Changes in Korean Family : Current Trend

Multi-Cultural Korean Families from International Marriage Family Policies for Multi-Cultural Families Suggestions

Changes in Korean Family

Family Planning for Population Control
Low Birth Rate

Aging Society Increased Divorce Rate New Types of Family

Living separately due to Job situation (weekend couple) Living separately internationally due to childs education DINK (Double Income No Kids) Couple Single Parent Family Elderly Living Alone Single Household

Trend of Marriage, Divorce, Birth (1970-2004)

Year # of Marriage # of Divorce Divorce Rate (%) Birth Rate

1970
1980 1990 2000 2004 19702004

295,137
403,031 399,311 334,030 310,944 + 15,807

11,615
23,662 45,694 119,982 139,365 + 127,750

4.0 %
5.9 % 11.4 % 35.9 % 44.5 % + 40.5 %

4.53
2.83 1.59 1.17 1.16 - 3.37

Source : Ministry for Health and Welfare, (2007)., Statistical Office (2006).

Aging Society : Comparison of Aging Speed

Country Japan France Germany England Italy Arriving 7% 1970 1864 1932 1929 1927

14 % 1994 1979 1972 1976 1988

20 % 2006 2019 2010 2020 2008

7% 14 % 24 yrs 115 40 47 61

14%20% 12 yrs 40 38 44 20

USA
Korea, S

1942
2000

2014
2018

2030
2026

72
18

16
8

Source : Ministry for Health and Welfare, (2008). , Statistical Office, (2005).

Refugees from North Korea

Year -2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006, 6 < 10 yrs 47 (3.3%) 43 (15.6%) 55 (4.8%) 46 (3.6%) 69 (3.6%) 40 (2.9%) 40 (4.7%) 10-19 191 (13.6%) 91 (15.6%) 154 (13.5%) 161 (12.6%) 247(13.0%) 184 (13.3%) 94 (11.0%) 20 + 1169 (83.1%) 449 (77.0%) 930 (81.7%) 1074(83.8%) 1578 (83.4%) 1159 (83.8%) 720 (84.3%)
Total (Children%)

1,407 (16.9%) 583 (23.0%) 1,139 (18.3%) 1,281 (16.2%) 1,894 (16.6%) 1,383 (16.2%) 854 (15.7%)

Source : Ministry for Health and Welfare, (2007), Statistical Office, (2007).

Trend in International Marriage

Year
1990

Total Marriage
399,312

International Marriage
4,710 ( 1.2%)

Foreign Wife
619 ( 0.2%)

Foreign Husband
4,091 ( 1.0%)

1995 2000
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

398,494 334,030
304,932 310,944 316,375 332,752 345,592

13,494 ( 3.4%) 12,319 ( 3.7%)

25,658 ( 8.4%) 35,447 (11.4%) 43,121 (13.6%) 39,690 (11.9%) 38,491 (11.1%)

10,365 ( 2.6%) 7,304 ( 2.2%)

19,214 ( 6.3%) 25,594 ( 8.2%) 31,180 ( 9.9%) 30,208 ( 9.1%) 29,140 ( 8.4%)

3,129 ( 0.8%) 5,015 ( 1.5%)

6,444 ( 2.1%) 9,853 ( 3.2%) 11,941 ( 3.8%) 9,482 ( 2.8%) 9,351 ( 2.7%)

Source : Ministry for Health and Welfare, (2008) , Statistical Office,(2008).

Trend in International Marriage

48,000 43,000 38,000 33,000 28,000 23,000 19,214 18,000 13,494 13,000 8,000 4,710 4,091 3,000 1990 3,129 1995 2000 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 10,365 7,304 5,015 6,444 12,319 9,853 11,941 9,482 9,351 25,658 25,594 35,447 31,180 30,208 # of international marriage # of foreign wives # of foreign husbands 43,121 39,690 38,491

29,140

Trend in International Marriage

50000 45000 43,121 40000 35000 30000 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 25,658 25,594 35,447 31,180 30,208 39,690 38,491

29,140 # of

internationa l m arriage # of foreign wives # of foreign husbands

19,214 13,494 10,365 7,304 6,444 5,015 3,129 2000 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

12,319 9,853

11,941 9,482 9,351

4,091

619 0 1990 1995

Foreign wives of Farmers & Fishers in Korea

# of Farmers &
Year Fisheries Married 2005 2006 2007 8,027 8,596 7,930 2,885 (36%) 3,525 (41%) 3,172 (40%) # of Foreign Wives (%)

Source : Ministry for Health and Welfare, (2008). , Statistical Office (2008).

Nationality of Foreign Wives

National Origin Total China Japan 2001 10,006 7,001 976 2002 11,017 7,041 959 2003 19,214 13,373 1,242 2004 25,594 18,527 1,224 2005 31,180 20,635 1,255 2006 2007

30,208 29,140 14,608 1,484 14,526 1,665

USA
Philippines Vietnam Thailand

265
510 134 185

267
850 476 330

323
944 1,403 346

344
964 2,462 326

285
997 5,822 270

334
1,157 10,131 273

377
1,531 6,611 531

Russia
Mongolia Other

157
118 660

241
195 658

297
318 968

318
504 925

236
561 1,119

206
594 1,421

156
745 2,998

Source : Ministry for Health and Welfare, (2008). , Statistical Office (2008).

Nationality of Foreign Wives

Nationality of Foreign wives(2007) 6% 49% 1% 5% Chana Japan America Philippines Vietnam Thailand Russia Mongol Other

23% 10% 2% 3% 1%

Original Countries of Foreign Wives

33,000 30,000 27,000 24,000 21,000 18,000 15,000 12,000 9,000 6,000 3,000 0 134 2001 476 2002 1,403 2003 Total China Japan 20,635 USA 19,214 18,527 Philippines Vietnam 14,608 14,526 Thailand 13,373 Russia 11,017 10,131 10,006 Mongolia Other 7,001 7,041 6,611 5,822 2,462 2005 2006 2007 25,594 31,180 30,208 29,140

2004

Ways of International Marriage

Introduction by Friend, Family : 49.3 % Direct Meeting/ Choice : 16.1 % Religious Organization : 15.5% Marriage Broker : 13.4 %
Increasing Demonstrating Some Problems

Ways of International Marriage

Ways of International Marriage

13.4%

Introduction by Friend, Family 49.3% Direct Meeting/ Choice Religious Organization

15.5%

16.1%

Match Making Agency

International Marriage Cases by Region

Total # of marriage #(person) Region Total Number 110,362 Foreign husbands 13,126 Foreign wives 97,236

Seoul
Busan Daegu Incheon Gwangju. Deajeon Ulsan Gyeonggi

28,108
5,018 3,268 6,536 2,053 2,437 1,919 28,135

5,526
487 295 955 148 248 125 3,918

22,582
4,531 2,973 5,581 1,905 2,189 1,794 24,217

International Marriage Cases by Region

Total # of marriage # (person) Region Total Number Foreign husbands Foreign wives

110,362
Gangwon Chungbuk Chungnam Junbuk Junnam Gyungbuk Gyungnam Jeju 2,676 3,425 5,024 4,314 4,766 5,487 6,267 929

13,126
132 201 259 160 89 210 296 77

97,236
2,544 3,224 4,765 4,154 4,677 5,277 5,971 852

Children from Multi-Cultural Families

Person

# of Students from Intl Marriage # of Students from Foreign Workers # of Student Refugees from N. Korea

Before 1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Source : Ministry of Education (2007), Ministry of Unification (2007)

Charicteristic of Children from International Marriage

Husband 10 + yrs older (38 %) Student Children : 13,445 (2007)
Elementary School : 87.4% Middle School : 10.2 % High School : 2.4 % After 2010 will rapidly increase

Residence : City 75 %, Rural 25 %

Difficulties Marriage Immigrant Women Experience Social Isolation

Poor Environment to Raise Children

Language, cultural barrier

In Low-Income Famlies
20.7 % welfare recipients (50 % in poverty) 23.6 % No health insurance

Marital Conflict, Family Violence Insecure Status until becoming Korean Citizen Social Bias toward Foreigners/ Mixed Marriages

Case Example # 1
Irene, a 26 year old Filipina
Married a 44 y/o Korean Farmer Mr. Kim 2 & 1/2 years ago through friend Had a marital problem due to husbands alcoholism and abuse Also mother-in-law has been seriously complaining on her not working hard in farming nor having a child yet

Husband beat her and kicked her out of home

Irene sought shelter at neighbors home and neighbor contacted the social worker for help

Case Example # 2
Akiko, a 32 year old Japanese
Married a 49 y/o Korean Blue Color Man for 8 years through religious organization Have two children, 7 yr son, 5 yr dtr Husband Mr. Lee has not kept the promise of actively involving in the religious activity Now Mr. Lee does drive taxi & other odd jobs and spends rare time with family

And does not want Akiko to visit her family in Japan nor meet other wives, keeping her isolated at home with kids, checking regularly by phone
Son in 1st grade got teased from classmates and neighbor kids due to his shyness and poor Korean skill

Case Example # 3
Nian, a 24 year old Vietnamese
Married a Korean man four years ago through marriage broker
Was forced to give up two babies to the husband ex-wife Husband then asked Nian for a divorce

And United with his ex-wife

Nian realized that she was used as a surrogate mother in this process

Policies for Multi-Cultural Families

Saeromaji Plan (Comprehensive Long-term plan) : Newly Preparation Plan Integrated Support Plan for MCF

Act on Healthy Family Center

Transnational Marriage & Family Support Center Law on Managing Marriage Brokers

Main Features of Saeromaji Plan

Socialization of Family Care

Comprehensive Support for Birth and Nurture

Securing Conditions for Working Women keeping Family Life Gender Equality Policies and Practice

Strengthening the Various Types of Families

Indigent Families : Low-income Families, Single Parent Families, Families with the disabled Multi-Cultural Families

Integrated Support Plan for Multi-Cultural Families

Goal of Policy
Prevention of Illegal Intl

Specific Task
Regulations on the Marriage Broker Business

Marriage & Protection of the Regulations on the Broker for Human Trade

Married
Advocative Support of Domestic Stay for Family Violence Victims Support for Adjustment in Korea

Brief Procedure and Documents for VISA

Support System for Victims of Family Violence Provision of Residency to Children and Mothers from Marriage in Life Regulations on Naturalization and Divorce System to provide info for Adjustment Support for Adjustment and Settlement in Korea

Source : Ministry for Health and Welfare, (2008).

Integrated Support Plan for Multi-Cultural Families

Goal of Policy Support to Children Specific Task Education of Teachers, Prevention of Bullying

System for Education of Multi-Culturalism

for Adjustment in Schools Counseling and Social Work Services Basic Livelihood Security & Health Enhancement Support for Stable Support for Childbirth and Parenting

Family Environment
Counseling for Job and Entering to Public Services Environment for Multi-Culturalism in Community Education for Social Views Education of Workers in Public Services

on Foreign Wives
Training for Personnel in Social Work & Health Construction of Operation System Support of Transnational
Source : Ministry for Health and Welfare, (2008).

Service Delivery System

Healthy Family Support Center Transnational Marriage & Family Support Center

Centers for Children & Families

Multi-purpose Centers for Families

Counseling Centers for Families (e.g. Family Violence, Child Abuse, etc)

Support System for TMFSC

Ministry of Women (and Family)

City, Province (City, County, District)

Transnational Marriage & Family Support Center

Supervisory Agency for TMFSC (Central Healthy Family Support Center)

The Role of Transnational Marriage & Family Support Center

Education Korean, Culture Cultural, Family Support Local Transnational Marriage & Family Support Center Child Care Self-Support Groups Advertisement & Networking

Counseling

Law on Managing Marriage Broker : 2008

International matchmaking business
Must register and report to their mayor, governor, or ward chief

If marriage broker is convicted and serves prison

For cheating or misleading people, intentionally withholding documents, violating immigration law, or Engaging in sex trade Then, limited access to business

Public statement of commission & membership fee

No false or racist advertisement Protection of private information

Compensation for a customers loss caused by the brokers mistake

Must carry insurance Bank deposit to protect customers

Suggestions
Implementation of Family Policies for MCF
Considering the specific Needs of Regions Considering the specific Needs of Individual MCF

Research on MCF
Current Status of Foreign Wives Children from MCF Difficulties they experience Effective Programs & Services

Suggestions
Training Specialists for MCF
Need to develop university curriculum to train social work students for MCF BSW curriculum for Front Line Social Worker MSW curriculum for supervisors, educators Doctoral curriculum for researchers, educators Curriculum for social workers working with MCF for re-training and continuing education

Suggestions
Marriage Education & Support Program (Lum, 2008)
Couples from International Marriage in the last three years Couples who are currently reentering Korea with a foreign bride

Primary Prevention through premarital (post-marital) counseling, marriage counseling, acculturation and assimilation services
Secondary Treatment for couples exhibiting interpersonal & family problems Tetiary follow-up for women in marital transition situations (housing relocation, education, and employment training) and protective shelter program

Thank you!

HALLYM UNIVERSITY

Reference
Gangwon Development Research Institute(2006), Survey on Gangwon Woman from international marriage for adjustment in the community

I-Seon Kim(2007), Policy of International Marriage that must look for an original place, Gender Review. Vol.4(Spring, 2007) pp.22-31
I-Seon Kim et al. (2006), Policy Problem for Cultural conflict experience and increase of understanding for International Marriage woman, Korean Women's Development Institute Beom-Su Kim et al. (2007), Social Work for Multi-culture, University of Pyeongtaek Multicultural Family Center. Dong-Hun Seol (2005), Research for International Marriage and Health / welfare support policies plan, Ministry of Health & Welfare Dong-Hun Seol, Ran-Ju Lee(2005), Study of System Improvement for Research for foreign worker support program and plan of the middle long term project, Korea Worker Compensation & Welfare Service

Reference
Yun-Jung Jung(2006), Family Characteristics and School Adjustment of the Children of Marriage-migrant Families, Department of Social welfare , Graduate School of the Catholic University of Korea. Young-Dal Jo(2006), Research for Education of Children in Multiculture Family, Ministry of Education, Science, technology. Hyun-Ju An(2006), Home Violence Experience of Immigrant Woman who Married a Korea Man through International Marriage and those Womans Reaction to the Violence Based on Feminist Perspectives-, Dpet. Womans Studies, Graduate School of Social Welfare, Shilla University of Korea Tai-Ock Lee(2006), A Study on the Family and the Social Network for the Immigrated Woman the focus about the women in Yeonggwang- , School of Social Welfare Kwangju University Jung-Hee Lee(2007), A Study on cultural conflicts and divorce of female marriage immigrants, Dept. Social Welfare, Graduate School of Womens studies Keimyung University of Korea