First National Survey on Foreign-Born Wives’ Life in Korea

Ministry of Health and Welfare

Ministry of Health and Welfare. 2005. “First National Survey on Foreign-Born Wives’ Life in Korea.” Government Press Releases, January 17, 2005.

wacheon, Jan 17 2005 (Korea Newswire) ㅡ The Ministry of Health and Welfare is going to conduct the first national survey on interracial couples, especially focusing on foreign wives and their Korean husbands’ life in Korea. The major purpose of this survey research led by Professor Seol Dong-Hoon is to understand the basic needs for health and welfare services among interracial couples.

Since 1990 the number of Korean men marrying foreign women mostly from developing countries has been on the rise. There are about 100,000 foreign wives and 60,000 foreign men who are married to Korean men and women respectively. Even though the concerns about foreign wives’ welfare have increased, there is little research that has been done based on a representative sample survey on this issue.

An interdisciplinary team will carry out the research during the first half of this year. Sociologists, social welfare scientists, anthropologists, and medical doctors, who have been working on the issue of international migration for years will join together for this research. The joint research will cover such issues as process of international marriage and entry to Korea, adjustment of everyday life and marriage and family life in Korea, needs for education programs helping interracial couples’ cultural and marital adjustment, and needs for welfare and health care services. It will also review the policies regarding international marriage in such countries as Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The various research methods are going to be utilized such as a nationwide questionnaire sample survey (with 1,000 foreign wives and Korean husbands and 500 foreign husbands and their Korean wives), in-depth interviews and participatory observation, interviews with NGOs and activists and so on.

Such a survey indicates that the government begins to pay attention to the issues of female immigrants through international marriage and tries to develop the most feasible polices to address them.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare is going to formulate and execute comprehensive policies for foreign wives and their families based on the outcome of the forthcoming research.