Don't call them 'Kopinos'

By Kim Jae-won

An association of the Korean community in the Philippines asked Koreans not to call Korean Filipinos “Kopinos” Thursday because it has discriminative nuances against children born to Korean men and Philippines women.

Kopinos is a term combining Koreans and Filipinos, referring to children who live with their Filipina mother without a Korean father who left them, according to the United Korean Community Association the Philippines.

“Kopinos has a negative meaning, looking down on those who have mixed heritages from Korea and the Philippines,” said an official of the association, suggesting that “Kor-fils” was perhaps a better term.

The association pointed out that it is wrong to think that the Korean-Filipino children are discriminated against in the Southeast Asian country because it is an open, matriarchal society.

It also showed concerns about some Korean activist groups which seek to help these children because their support is focused on temporary and one-time aid.

The association suggested Koreans provide educational programs, helping them play a bridging role between the two countries.

In December, four Korean lawmakers, including Jasmine Lee of the ruling Saenuri Party, an ethnic Filipina who immigrated to Korea, visited the Philippines to meet Filipino children who have Korean heritage, according to the National Assembly. The legislators are discussing measures to help them, which are expected to be announced later this year.

Observers say about 10,000 Filipino children who have Korean fathers live in the country. Most of them are the offspring of Korean businessmen who lived in the country temporarily, and later left.

The Korean community in the Philippines said it will continue to discuss how to help them in cooperation with Korean-Filipinos.