• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.107-133
• /
• 2010

This research identified the normal structures of separated families, "wild-geese families"(husbands living in Korea apart from their wives and children who are studying abroad) as we called, in Korea. In particular, this study conducted in-depth interview, using qualitative research method, with 7 wild-geese fathers (fathers who are in order to understand their experiences of separated families. The research findings classified the wild-geese father's experiences into three phases which as "decision-making," "initial," and "maintenance." These phases can be described by five higher factors. First of all, in the phase of decision-making "internal or external needs of children studying abroad at early age" was found to be a crucial factor. Liberation and deficiency as results of separation" mainly described the initial phase. In the phase of maintenance, families experience "exhausted solitary lives," "filling up the families' empty space," and "double jeopardy-worry about both reunifying the family or separating the family, as the longer they are separated."