“Multicultural families” in Asia

Abstract

South Korea’s “Multicultural families” (damunhwa-gajeong, 다문화가정) have been a major policy focus over the past two decades, yet there is uncertainty in society of the meaning of the term despite specific language in the law. Migrating workers and brides lead to international marriages and questions of citizenship and social fit for spouses and children alike in the historically homogeneous society. Comparisons are made to Japan and new-developing Vietnam, each of which have faced occupation by foreign troops and share a history of Confucianism along with that of exporting brides and orphans.