On Marriage Migration and Cultural Diversity in South Korea: Happy Mar…

The term of ‘multiculturalism’ was introduced to South Korea in 1990s, as the immigration of women and men from East and Southeast Asian countries began to increase rapidly. Although the concept assumes cultural diversity and interconnectedness of people, ideas, objects, and capital across the borders of nation-states, it became a tool for policy implementation by the government. Highly gendered migration policy has been limited to international marriage immigration of women from other Asian countries. The term of ‘multicultural family’ has gained currency in the South Korean society as it has increased at an unprecedented rate. Immigrant women are often viewed as caretakers for Korean husbands’ family members and potential bearers of the son for the family line, helping solve the serious problem of low birth rate of the country. This study explores how international marriage has been politicized in South Korea, and how patriarchal, capitalistic social structure has provided a context of border crossing where various agencies compete, negotiate and reinterpret their social positioning. The concept of multiculturalism will be re-visited by discussing different perspectives, spaces and positions which each agency occupies and manipulates.

Key Word:  politics of border crossing, marriage migration, multiculturalism, patriarchy