The Feminization of Migration to South Korea from a Gendered Perspective

The feminization of migration has been a particularly marked phenomenon in Asia since the mid-1980s. However, the feminization of migration has not been very pronounced in South Korea, although its significance has grown more recently. At present approximately 44% of the total number of foreigners staying in South Korea and about 30% of migrant workers are women. From the 1990s till today the largest groupings of female migrants into Korea have been the Josonjok and marriage migrants. This paper reviews the phenomenon of the feminization of migration into South Korea, examining its trends and characteristics. It illustrates the role played by the Josonjok and marriage migrants in the process. The impact of this phenomenon on Korean society and policy is also explored, and finally, gender issues are examined. It is notable that the Korean Government’s perception of this phenomenon is not from the perspective of a gender issue, but as a population or family matter. The current integration policies, therefore, lack in gender equality content or measures. Thus it is that policies in South Korea need a more ‘gender-mainstream’ perspective.