Multicultural families are also Koreans

▲Ratio of Multicultural Students / Source: the Department of Education

Recently, children from multicultural families are common in Korea. The number of multicultural families has risen sharply as companies hire more foreign workers and Korean men get married to women from neighboring countries. That is why we can easily see multicultural families with exotic appearance and fluent Korean. Vietnam has the largest number, followed by China, Korean-Chinese and the Philippines. In addition, there are various people from countries such as India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Mongolia in Korea.

Along with the increase of multicultural families, the number of multicultural students attending Korean schools has increased. They increased about fivefold in eight years (20,000 in 2008 and 99,000 in 2016). The ratio of multicultural students in all Korean schools exceeded 1.0 percent in 2014 and 1.7 percent in 2016. The increase in these students is influenced by international marriages. Since there is less resistance to international marriages than in the past, multicultural children are expected to increase in the future. So, are multicultural children living happy in Korea? And how do native Koreans treat them?

▲Types of damage / Source: Ministry of the Interior and Safety

In fact, many multicultural children are being discriminated and ridiculed by Koreans. It is important for students to grow up in a bright and positive school environment because it greatly affects their formation of values. However, students from multicultural families often fail to continue their studies and drop out or adjust to school because of discrimination by native Koreans students. many of the children of multicultural families are said to have experienced ridicule and violence at school.

Every Korean has a right not to be discriminated against by racial, cultural and religious differences. So, what should we do to make them grow up to be proud Koreans? According to an interview with Park Si-kyun, a professor of multicultural studies, "First, our perception of multicultural families must be changed. Nowadays it is natural for different races to live in one country. We need to understand and recognize them as Koreans like us, not foreigners. It should also important for native Koreans students to receive education to respect and accept cultural diversity. And it should encourage native Koreans students to have good relationships with multicultural children." Park also said that "having a multicultural family happy can help our society become healthy and prevent various crimes." If you have a multi-cultural friend who feel hard to adapt to Korea, let's say hello. We can be friends as same Koreans.