• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2023

While economic incentives have led to migration, the failure to adapt to a new city and to ease the financial burden to support families have raised migrants' intention to return to their hometowns. Using the 2016 China Migrants Dynamic Survey, this study investigates determinants of migrants' intention to return. Migration at a young age, which is associated with lower barriers to the new culture, and intraprovince migration requiring less effort to adapt to the new city, were associated with lower intention to return. Also, migrants with less burden to support a family tend to have a higher intention to return to rural hometowns. Specifically, migrants with children over 18 years old and fewer family members are likely to return to their hometowns. To revitalize rural economy and reduce the rural-urban disparity, a policy to support migrants with high intention to return will be needed.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.147-166
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• 2008

This study investigated perceptions of early childhood teachers about children of Female International Marriage Migrants(FIMM) and their classroom conditions. Data was collected from 117 teachers of kindergartens and day care centers in Jeonnam Province using a 28-item inventory composed of classroom conditions and perceptions of teachers about the children of FIMM. Results showed that over 70% of teachers' students were children of FIMM. Children's traits included poor language skills, confusion of identity, and socio-emotional problems due to passive interaction with peers. Programs specifically for FIMM and their children are rare. Teachers considered difficulties teaching children of FIMM are due to lack of economic support, hardship of managing multicultural curriculum, restrictions in application of that curriculum, and institutional inertia.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.676-694
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• 2012

This paper investigates the regional distribution of female transnational marriage migrants by nationalities in South Korea. In addition, this research explores the regional distribution by nationalities, migration processes, and socioeconomic characteristics of female transnational marriage migrants in Chungcheongbuk-do in South Korea. Regarding the regional distribution of female transnational marriage migrants in South Korea, using location quotient, this study seeks to categorizes cities and counties in South Korea into five groups. Furthermore, using Thomas method, this paper tries to stereotype cities and counties in Chungcheongbuk-do into six groups, in order to identify significant nationalities in each group. The concept of transnationalism refers to the recent phenomenon that transnational social networks are prominent, linking societies at the global scale, as international migration has been rapidly increasing due to the globalization. Transnationalism provides insight into the in-depth understanding of socio-spatial structure of international migrants, transnational social networks, transnational identities, cultural hybridization, and so on.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.729-741
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to examine conflicts between female international marriage migrants(FIMMs) and their family members, and living conditions of FIMMs in Korea. The results will be useful in understanding FIMMs' struggles and will help them to develop their adaptive ability to family life. This study analyzed the factors in three dimensions: a Sociodemographic factor, a marriage-related factor and a factor of the migrants' relationship to their family members. All conflicts result from the lack of mutual understanding between the migrants and their family, and the differences between their languages and between their cultures. Of course, FIMMs can not adequately express their feelings and opinions in Korean language. Their loved ones and relatives can not express their feelings in the immigrants' languages, either. It is evident that there are a lot of misunderstandings caused from their language barrier. The public support for the migrants is limited. They live a lonely life and no consideration. Most of them complains that their husbands have no careful concern for their feelings. That seems because most of the Korean husbands have never had education enough to understand their problems in terms of international marriage. A close watch of what can be learned from conflict and complaints of women. However, any sympathy for foreign women's complaints should be evaluated in cultural sides: especially family life education programs for Korean husbands and their family members are required for a good grasp of typical intermarriage issues.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.47-73
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• 2006

Objectives: This study aims to identify gaps between knowledge regarding migration and the spread of HIV/AIDS, to improve understanding of migrants with HIV/AIDS and their human rights, and to make suggestions for Korean policy makers to reform laws and policies towards granting migrants with HIV/AIDS more human rights and access to treatment and care. Methods: This study is based on an extensive literature review, questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews from randomly selected 8 countries from 5 different continents: Japan from Asia; Australia from Oceania; Finland, Germany, Ireland and United Kingdom(UK) from Europe; and Canada and United States of America(USA) in North America. Results: This study has found that Korea has a discriminating policy regarding HIV/AIDS and foreigners. Classifying HIV/AIDS into a legal communicable disease, it requires a presentation of HIV/AIDS test results from foreigners wanting a long-term stay before entering. In principle, foreigners with HIV/AIDS cannot either enter or stay in Korea. If they are known infected with HIV/AIDS by any reason, they became to face an immediate deportation regardless of their sojourn statuses and purposes. Conclusion: With the results, this study suggests three reasons why Korean government needs to change the current HIV/AIDS policy on foreigners: 1) HIV-related travel restrictions have no public health justification, 2) its strict HIV/AIDS policy on foreigners could result in restriction on the mobility and migration of its people by the other countries, inversely, and 3) it needs to meet international guidelines and to observe conventions that international organizations suggest to maintain its status as a member of the international society.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.113-128
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current state and trends of health-related research on foreign migrants living in Korea. Methods: Among 85 articles identified via PubMed and RISS and additional 7 articles by ancestry search, 28 were selected for the review. Two authors independently reviewed the articles using a literature review matrix and examined together the three aspects of the studies: research methods, research topics, and research results. Results: Most of the articles were published between 2005-2009, and only 3 studies used an interdisciplinary approach. Most were exploratory and there were 4 intervention studies: three of them examined the effect of an art therapy on acculturative stress and mental health among marriage migrant women. The lack of information on informed consent, approval of institutional review board, and the validity/reliability of the translated instruments were noted. Conclusions: Research is needed to examine migrants' health behaviors, the prevalence of chronic illness among migrants, and the influence of acculturation on the use of health resources, health behaviors, and health status. Researchers should be aware of ethnic issues when they work with foreign migrants.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.268-282
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• 2012

International marriage migrants from developing to developed countries are to seek a better economic condition. There are only a few empirical research on comparing and analyzing economic condition of marriage migrants before and after marriage. This study attempted to analyze the relationship between the cognition on the change of economic condition before and after marriage and the socio-economic characteristics of Vietnamese international marriage female migrants. About 80% of interviewees of this study were motivated to marry Korean men for economic reasons; however, their household economic level was relatively low. Reflecting the household economic level, about half the Vietnamese women considered that there was very little difference in the economic condition before and after marriage; while, the percent of women considering the current economic condition as getting better were more than 4 times of that of women considering as becoming worse. The cognition on the economic condition change before and after marriage was positively correlated with the level of education attainment of husbands and themselves, the Korean language ability, state of occupation in Korea, the level of husband's income, involvement of management of living expenses and length of residence in Korea. The occupation in Vietnam and the state of remittance were not significantly related to the cognition on the economic condition change before and after marriage. Vietnamese marriage female migrants were highly motivated to have a job out of home to improve the economic condition of their own family and natal family. Concreted alternative programs should be made to help those women to work out of home.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.110-118
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• 2020

Migration presents a substantial social and public health issue. However, it is unclear whether diabetes is worse among Asian migrants than natives of South Korea over time. This longitudinal study investigated the nationwide population, including 2,680,495 adults aged 20 years and older (987,214 Asian migrants and 1,693,281 natives), who received health check-ups, using the Korean National Health Insurance Service data (2009-2015). Joinpoint regression was used to estimate the annual percentage change of diabetes, and multivariable logistic regression was used to examine differences in incident type 2 diabetes between Asian migrants and natives adjusting for age, sex, economic status, body mass index, smoking status, any alcohol use, and physical activity. The age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes increased among native men (from 8.8% in 2009 to 9.7% in 2015, APC=1.64, p<0.05) compared to Asian migrant men, and the age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes increased among native women (from 6.0% in 2009 to 6.7% in 2015, APC=1.88, p<0.05) compared to Asian migrant women. In the multivariate analyses, Asian migrants were less likely to get type 2 diabetes than natives (odds ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.86) between the first and last health check-ups. However, the odds ratio for developing type 2 diabetes was 1.15 (95% CI, 1.10 to 1.20) among low-income levels compared to high-income levels, regardless of whether they were Asian migrants or natives. The results could help to establish a new strategy for prevention, treatment, and management of diabetes among the Asian population.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.603-615
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• 2022

Assessing the health of international migrants is crucial in the Republic of Korea, Asia, and even worldwide. We compared the risk factors for non-communicable diseases among Asian migrants in Korea and the Korean population. This cross-sectional (2015) and longitudinal (2009-2015) observational study comprised a population-wide analysis spanning 2009 to 2015. Asian migrants (n=987,214) in Korea and Korean nationals (n=1,693,281) aged ≥20 were included. The Asian migrants were classified as Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, and other. The prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases (current smoking, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension) were analyzed. Regarding the age-adjusted prevalence, direct age standardization was conducted separately by sex using 10-year age bands; the World Standard Population was used as the standard population. Among the participants aged ≥20, the age-adjusted prevalence of current smoking was higher among Chinese and other Asian migrant men than among Korean men and women (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). The age-adjusted prevalence of obesity was higher among Chinese, Filipino, and other Asian migrant women than in Korean women (p<0.001, p=0.002, and p<0.001, respectively). Among the participants aged 20-49, the age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension was higher in Filipino migrant women than in Korean women (p=0.009 and p<0.001, respectively). Current rates of smoking and obesity were worse among Asian migrants of specific nationalities than among native Koreans. The health inequalities among Filipino migrant women in Korea, especially those aged 20-49, should be addressed.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.71-95
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• 2005

This study aims to explore and understand the role of return migrants in the regional innovation system of a transition economy (China) by analyzing the activities of returning entrepreneurs in two emerging high-tech industries in Shanghai. The empirical analysis is based on in-depth interviews with founders of high-tech companies and experts in Shanghai. The results of the analysis reveal that return migrants are a significant factor for the Shanghai innovation system, which is presently in a transition from a former manufacturing site to a metropolitan region comprising a range of industries (including high-tech) and services. First of all, return migrants are important for the Shanghai RIS in terms of numbers. Second, they engage in activities in the medium range of high-tech which reflects prevailing weaknesses of the framework conditions for innovation in Shanghai. However, due to their international background, returning entrepreneurs are able to overcome these weaknesses, and thus contribute to the development of high-tech industries in Shanghai and to a reduction of the technological lock-in.