Basic Report

It seems that the concept of multiculre or multiculturalism is not strange any morein Korean society. The number of foreigners who come to Korea because of business,study, or marriage with Koreans has rapidly increased. In the early 1990s themajority of foreigners were factory workers came from Philippines, Thailand,Vietnam, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Since then, a huge influx of many foreign brideshas been brought about throughout an international marriage with Koreans, especiallyrural bachelors. About 30% of rural bachelors get married with foreign women. Thetotal number of married immigrant women is 144,385 people in 2008. It charges forabout 16% of the whole foreigners.Korean society has enjoyed homogeneous culture for a long time. It hasconstructed its national identity and tradition based on the myth of the singleethnicity. However, there have been the recent influx of foreign workers and bridesinto Korean soceity because of globalization and the spread of capitalism. Inconsequence Korean society rapidly goes toward multicultural society. Now, it hasfaced with the new challenges raised in multicultural societies. It needs to establisha new way of social integration throughout the spread of multiculturalism in Koreansociety which multicultures and multiraces go together with Korea's original culturaltradition. That is, the goal of multiculturallism is to achieve socail developmentthroughtout the coexistence of various cultures and nationalities.The main purpose of this study is to suggest a couple of action plans supportingfor married immigrant women which can be delivered by local governments. In fact,many married immigrant women have suffered from socio-economic difficulties suchas an acquaintance with neighbors, a lack of job opportunity, children's education,and family issues. Those problems are mainly derived from disfluency in Korean,cultural shock, and low incomes. Under the context that an international marrage andthe influx of foreign brides are expected to be consistently increased, it is veryimportant that central and local governments play an active role of supporting themas well as civic associations. In particular, the role of local governments is moreimportant than other institutions. This is because local governments are the mainactors who directly provide various services for these married immigrants womenliving in local areas.However, the service delivery system led by local governmetns has not beensystemized and effective so far. Meanwhile, central government and civicorganizations have mostly charged for supporting foreigners working and living inKorean society. In particular, civic organizations have made a huge effort to solve theproblems which foreigners faced with. Instead, local governments have only deliveredthe services arranged by the central government and lacked of understanding ofmarried immigrant women. Thus, it is neceesary to investigate what localgovernments can do for married immigrant women's better life. This study focuseson the role of local governments in terms of institutional and operational aspects ofthe supporting system. It is argued that local governments have to play an active rolefor supporting married immigrant women on the perspective of social integration inlocal community. Local governments have to contriibute to the establishnent ofmulticulural society throughout building up the effective management and servicedelivery system for married immigrant women.