Imperfect multiculturalism

This is the eighth in a series of letters by experts to President-elect Park Geun-hye. – ED.

Evangeline Orogan

Dear Madam President-elect,

I am from the Philippines and have been living here for four years as wife and mother in a multicultural family.

We at the Korean Institute for Healthy Family’s Danuri Call Center help immigrant spouses and multicultural families.

For last year’s presidential election, I was not able to vote because I didn’t hold Korean citizenship.

But I closely followed your sincere and heartwarming promises regarding multicultural families.

We receive inquiries about issues such as how new arrivals can adapt to the Korean way of living, along with problems regarding multicultural children’s education, married immigrants’ employment assistance, conflicts with parent-in-laws or spouses due to cultural differences.

Though there are complex problems in a multicultural family’s life, what I’ve experienced the most is prejudice against them.

During job searches, there is discrimination in qualification categories.

On a bus or subway, once people notice they look different, everybody’s attention is on them.

Children of multicultural families are often bullied during their school life.

In multicultural marriages, there are exceptional cases that couples fall in love with each other.

On the other hand, many immigrant spouses, especially those from countries less developed than Korea, think they can make money in Korea and help their folks back home.

They also think it is filial piety to show their parents that they are having a happy life in Korea. They also think living in Korea is another chance to make their dream come true.

Hence, immigrant spouses can become good human resources in Korea.

They can also help establish good diplomatic relationship between Korea and their homelands.

Henceforth, I hope the nation provides the public with education and a campaign to improve understanding about multicultural families.

My second hope is about our children. My children born of me and my Korean husband are “Korean.”

But people ask them, “What’s your nationality?” They don’t look like foreigners, but they get hurt because I’m a foreigner.

They are again hurt because I can’t help their study as my Korean is not fluent.

I’m also hurt because I can’t help them as much as other native Korean parents. Children of immigrant spouses need support and care.

Lastly, I hope married immigrants will have more chances for jobs for economic independence. Immigrant wives have babies while learning the Korean language, and they again miss the opportunity to develop language skills while taking care of their children.

Because of the language barrier, they usually land jobs such as manual workers or part-time work which are unrelated to their majors or don’t meet their capability. They’ll be good manpower here if they get job training and education.

Madam President-elect, on behalf of my colleagues and other married immigrants, I wish you will apply these hopes to your policy. I’ll support you for a happier multicultural society and the development of Korea. Thank you very much.

Evangeline Orogan is a consultant at the Korean Institute for Healthy Family’s Danuri Call Center. <The Korea Times/Evangeline Orogan>