1. Indonesia
KOREA
Indonesia

2. West Sumatera, Indonesia
50 provinces
Over 300 ethnic groups
Over 700 languages

3. Minang Kabau
- Minang Language
- Matrilineal (모계사회)
- 100 % Moslem
Ramadhan
Halal & Haram Food
Unrevealing Outfit

4. Multiculturalism in Indonesia
50 provinces
Over 300 ethnic groups
Over 700 languages

5. Multiculturalism in Korea:
A Myth
Dewi Barnas

6. • Perspective of a “Temporary Settler”
(방문)
• Perspective of a “Settling Foreigner(?)”
(체류 외국인)

7. Temporary Settler
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT

8. Short Term Visitor: 5 weeks
June-July 2006

9. I LOVE KOREA!!
• People are not afraid of my veil, they find my
style “unique”
• I can get around even though I didn’t speak
one word of Korean language

10. Settling Foreigner
Experience
• Difference in attitude toward Asian foreigner and Caucasian foreigner
– Physical appearance
– Speak Korean/English
• Scolded in the subway for speaking English with an African man.
• Korean-looking friend scolded for her foreigner-friends speak loudly in the
subway.
• Educational institution attracting foreign students do not accommodate
with bilingual information.
• Even some professors show bigger interest toward students of Western
background.
Observation
• Difference in attitude toward North American-Korean, Chinese-Korean,
and on. (교포 vs 고려인 vs 재일교포 vs 조선족)

11. Settling Foreigner (?)
CHILDREN OF “KOSIAN” MARRIAGE

12. Kosian ?
• Etymology: Korean-Asian
• Meaning: children from
international marriage
and child migrants
• Purpose of coining the
word:
- to facilitate accepting
families with multicultural
background as neighbors
- to form a society where the
diversity and dignity of
Kosians are respected.
www.kosian.or.kr

13. Testimonials
• “Koreans still have this stereotype that all ‘foreigners’ are white people.
So, when they see a Korean woman walking with a man from South Asia or
from an Arab country, they give the couple a disdainful look.” (a Korean woman
married to a Pakistani)
• “When I travel with my husband, we avoid buses and subways.” (a Korean woman
married to a Pakistani)
• Jean, 36, a Filipina who married a Korean in 2007 and moved to Korea the
same year. She is happily married to her husband but said Koreans regard
foreign spouses and their children as lower in social status.
• Park Israr, a Pakistani native, and his wife Park Young-keum have
experienced insults in the neighborhood and on the streets. “If I make a
mistake, drivers on the streets call me names about my skin, and many
times I have to overcome people’s biased ideas about being Korean .”
• Ms. Hahn said that her father and other relatives grilled her as to whether
she was dating Mr. Hussain. But when a cousin recently married a
German, “all my relatives envied her, as if her marriage was a boon to our
family,” she said. (a Korean woman dating an Indian)
Korea Times (22 Aug 2008, 1 Nov 2009, 27 May 2007); NY Times (1 Nov 2009)

14. What have been done?
• Korea Immigration Service acknowledged that
minorities in Korea suffer from discrimination
and they plan to address them through policy
changes and support.
http://video.naver.com/2009062216495635952

15. State-Led Multiculturalism vs.
Society-Led Multiculturalism
• Change comes from the people, not
regulation. Education and campaign about
multiculturalism are extremely important.
• It is dangerous to start embracing this notion
of a multicultural society, than, because it
detracts from what still needs to be done,
particularly regarding how Koreans perceive
their own society.(Alec Haskard)

16. Thank you….
감사합니다…