• The Southeast Asian review
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.31-72
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• 2010

This study is to explain the nature of transnational activities being involved in by Filipina intermarriage migrants in Korea by examining the institutional backgrounds of market, society and the state. The increasing number of Filipina intermarriage with Korean coincides with the advance of liberal market economy, which governs internal and bilateral interactions between and among the three institutions in both countries. While existing various reasons for engaging in intermarriage, a significant number of Filipina wives in Korea ventured into it with uncertain expectations that they might earn better lives and could support their families. Such hopes usually turn out in vain when they meet the real lives in Korea. It is mainly because their spouses in Korea would rather be those who left behind in the marriage market due to their lack of competitiveness. Filipina wives are also suffering from social isolation caused by language and other barriers such as family relations or rural life they might settle in. Their transnational activities usually tend to be their effort to breakthrough their unexpected condition of difficult lives in Korea. They usually make use of transnational sort of community activities to cultivate chances to engage in bread earning activity. Migrant's transnational activity has a great impact on sociocultural changes in the country of origin and of arrival. Transnational activity provides migrants with economic opportunities, and uplifts self-esteem as well. Intermarriage couples, especially with Southeast Asian wives, and their offsprings show a tendency of downward assimilation to Korean society. Korean state policy toward them should not simply apply undiscriminated assimilation theory, but take into account their possible strength of transnational identity with which they could find a means to integrate themselves successfully into the mainstream Korean society.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.19 no.spc
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• pp.67-70
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• 2011

In 2006, 41% of newly-married Korean men living in agriculture or fishery area were married to foreign wives. These foreign wives suffer social, cultural, and psychological maladjustment. They need support in understanding Korean culture & language, economic independence, and mental health. This horticultural therapy program (HT program) was practiced to help the foreign wives gain emotional stability, to help them adapt to rural society, and to help them improve the relationship with their families. The participants of this HT program were 10 foreign wives, 5 Chinese, 2 Vietnamese, 1 Japanese, 1 Thai, and 1 Filipina. Total sessions were 12, and each session lasted for two hours. This program started April and ended July in 2007. After this program, self-esteem of participants increased from 29.6 to 33.5, and stress decreased from 77.3 to 64.7. Participants also expressed sense of satisfaction and accomplishment after the program.

• SUVANNABHUMI
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.107-150
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• 2013

본 연구는 필리핀 국제결혼 이주여성들이 한국사회에 적응하는 과정에서 나타나는 초국가적 행태의 원인을 국가, 시장, 사회의 상호작용을 중심으로 고찰하였다. 자본주의적 시장경제체제 하에서 시장의 역할은 확대되고, 국가의 시장통제와 사회보호는 약화되며, 사회는 이러한 환경에 적응하기 위한 선택을 하게 된다. 지구화의 영향으로 교류와 접촉의 기회가 증가함에 따라 국제결혼의 가능성이 다양한 수준으로 확대된 것은 사실이다. 그러나 국제결혼이주를 선택하는 많은 수의 필리핀 여성들은 시장경제체제의 소외계층에 속하며, 이들을 맞이하는 한국 남성들도 많은 경우 국내 결혼시장에서 소외된 계층에 속한다. 이들의 초국가적 행태는 지구화 시대에 국경을 넘나들며 다양한 외국어 능력을 갖추고, 타국 문화에 익숙하며, 품위 있는 직장을 가진 '세계시민'의 그것과는 대조적이다. 오히려 시장경제체제 하에서 소외된 사람들의 생존전략의 하나로 볼 수 있다. 기존의 초국가주의 논의가 이주자 개인의 삶과 출신지의 변화에 초점을 두었다면, 본 연구의 국제결혼이주와 연관된 초국가적 행태는 생존전략으로서의 선택이라는 측면과 정착지 사회의 변화에 초점을 두었다.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.79-89
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• 2010

Objectives: This study aims to identify health status and health risks among female marriage immigrants to Korea and to provide a basis for public health strategies to address their health issues. Methods: The participants of the study were 3,069 immigrant wives. The health examination was conducted by the Korea Association of Health Promotion (KAHP) in 2008. The participants also completed self-administered questionnaires on demographic characteristics, health-related behaviors and mental health. Results: Patterns of immigrant women's health problems differed by age and country of origin. Behavior patterns also differed by their heritage, age, and years of residence in Korea. Generally Vietnamese women fell in lower ranges of disease prevalence and health risk factors in the participant group and Japanese women presented most healthy eating habits. Filipina women showed relatively high disease prevalence than any other group. Conclusion: Immigration to Korea by marriage is relatively a new phenomenon, thus continuing surveillance and research are needed to identify health risks, behavior patterns, and their relationships. Interventions and policies for the health of migrant wives, their children and families are required.