Book shows how migrant women in rural Okcheon joined hands to seek their rights

Han In-jung, the author of the newly released book, "Our Story that We Make," covers migrant women's working conditions while helping them in a greenhouse in Okcheon, North Chungcheong Province. Courtesy of Han In-jung

Former journalist offers glimpse into how "first daughters of poor families" fought discrimination in Korea

By Lee Yeon-woo

Many migrant women in Korea are foreigners who married Korean men who live primarily in rural areas. These marriage migrants also refer to themselves as "the first daughters of poor families."

As the eldest daughters are mostly responsible for supporting their family members as breadwinners, they packed their bags for their new lives in Korea in order to financially support their family members back home. For this reason, their "Korean dream" is based on their sacrifices.

Many of them ended up encountering tougher-than-expected living conditions in Korea. Sending money to their families in their home countries has often become a distant dream, as all the money they earned goes into the hands of their husbands or mothers-in-law.

Their frustration, tears, homesickness and longing to reunite with their family members in their home countries are reflected in the newly released book, titled, "Our Story that We Make." Written by journalist-turned-activist Han In-jung, the book tells the stories of numerous migrant women who came to the rustic county of Okcheon in North Chungcheong Province.

The population of this rural county has changed in recent decades with the arrival of hundreds of marriage migrants. Interestingly, Vietnamese women constitute the majority of marriage migrants there. Nearly 70 percent of the 423 female marriage migrants there are Vietnamese.

"Our Story that We Make" by Han In-jung. Courtesy of Podobat Publication

Vietnamese women accounting for the lion's share of marriage migrants in Okcheon doesn't mean that the region is necessarily popular in the Southeast Asian country, nor is it a wealthy area, according to the author.

"It all started with a rumor among Okcheon residents that Vietnamese women are diligent, obedient and tend to adjust well to Korean families as both countries share patriarchal systems," Han told The Korea Times.

On the other hand, an unnamed migrant woman was quoted by the author as saying that marriage migrants are not well received there.

"It's like adopting a dog," she said. "If one breed gets popular, then everybody wants to get the same breed. A preference for certain nationalities proves that we are not respected as human beings," the woman added.

Han interviewed numerous marriage migrants in the county for her book and all of them chose to be anonymous mainly because they mostly speak about their negative experiences.

Han said that many of Okcheon's marriage migrants live like "aliens," without being fully accepted by the locals.

They are unable to watch Vietnamese television programs or eat Vietnamese food, and they find it hard to become accepted as community members.

"I have been called, 'Vietnam' (instead of my name). I knew my neighbor called me when I heard the word, 'Vietnam,' but I didn't understand why he didn't call me by my name," said another migrant woman who asked to be referred to by the alias, "Sea."

Another woman nicknamed, "Wind," also shared her frustration when she visited a public bath.

"The owner insisted that my friend and I save water because we are foreigners. Why say that? We paid the same money to come here," she said.

Discrimination is a significant part of life for most marriage migrants in Korea.

"Spring," a marriage migrant from Japan, constantly faces requests to choose between Japan and Korea when bilateral relations turn sour. Her neighbors troubled her by asking her to answer whether she thinks Dokdo belongs to Japan and whether she supports Japan in national sports games.

While capturing the discrimination and prejudice female marriage migrants face every day, Han sheds light on their efforts to overcome these hurdles and carve out their roles as Okcheon residents.

They teamed up to form a group, called the International Migrant Women Council, to make their voices heard.

"Migrant brides used to consider discrimination something private that happened within the boundaries of the family. (Before I interviewed them,) …they never dared to speak up because they were ashamed about it," Han said.

When Han started interviewing female marriage migrants through the Okcheon International Migrant Women Council, it was just a small organization with a few executive members. But as the interviews continued, the women realized that they shared the same experiences of discrimination. Around one third of the marriage migrants living in Okcheon, or 103 women, have joined the council as of Jan. 2022 to help their fellow women and fight discrimination.

As the first institution established by female marriage migrants, the council offers various programs for migrant women in Okcheon. The programs vary from classes for children to learn their mother's languages to voluntary work on local farms that need extra labor.

Vu Thi Thanh Hoa, the president of Okcheon's International Marriage Migrant Council, speaks at a press conference urging local election candidates to make laws on migrants' rights and to establish a migrant center, in Okcheon, North Chungcheong Province, May 27. Courtesy of Han In-jung

Han also records the council's journey to call for migrants' rights.

At a press conference on May 27, the council urged local election candidates to make laws to protect migrants' rights and to establish a migrant center. Ten local candidates from Okcheon and Chungcheong Province attended the press conference.

"I promise to support migrant women living safe and happy lives as people, not somebody's daughter-in-laws, wives or mothers," one of the candidates said at the press conference.

Their dream is to traverse boundaries and unite with other migrant women living in nearby counties.

"I can feel the growing expectation that something might change if we hold each other's hands. Other migrant women call and ask me sometimes what they can do if they want to change their situation. I heard someone saying that everybody knows about the council in Okcheon. I guess we are famous now," a council member who calls herself "Sky" said.