Marriage brokers for overseas brides under greater scrutiny

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said Wednesday it will implement stricter rules on interracial marriages brokered by matchmaking firms, mandating the companies to provide detailed personal information about Koreans looking for foreign spouses.

The measure comes amid concerns that many brokers have provided foreign women seeking to marry South Korean men with falsified records concerning the latter’s marital status, medical and criminal history.

Under the new rule, brokers of interracial marriages are required to have notarized documents from applicants, including any criminal and medical records.

The criminal records should include details of charges and convictions, and jail terms. Medical records have to be certified by a doctor.

Those opening a matchmaking agency are required to have capital of at least 100 million won. Also, information on such agencies must be posted on district, county, and city office websites.

Marriage brokers are banned from introducing partners who are under 18 years old and arranging group meetings.

Those who break the rules face up to 20 million won in fines or a maximum prison term of three years, according to the ministry.

Amid rising concerns over marriage practices between Korean men and foreign wives, especially from Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam has enacted strict measures to prohibit young Vietnamese women from marrying Korean men aged 50 or over.

Cambodia has also introduced tighter regulations, banning marriages between Cambodian women and Korean men over the age of 50 with a monthly income of less than $2,550.

The ministry said unregistered brokers are prohibited from putting up advertisements for interracial marriages.

“Inaccurate and unchecked information on marriage partners has contributed to the increase of divorces, desertions and physical assault cases among interracially married couples,” a ministry official said. “A mandatory release of personal information about partners adopted in 2010 has played a vital role in guaranteeing honest marriages.”

Since 2010, brokers have been obligated to reveal personal information, including past marriage records, health condition, job status, and criminal records, before an arrangement is made between a Korean man and a foreign woman. The number of interracial marriages decreased in 2011 to 22,265 from 26,274 in 2010. <The Korea Times/Yun Suh-young>

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