Two facts are salient surrounding multicultural families. One is the increasing number of the members of multicultural families. In 10 years or so, it is estimated to be several millions, accounting for about 5 percent of the total population.
What is obvious is that there is no sign of a decrease. Due to the accelerating globalization, Koreans’ reluctance to take up so called “3D”(dirty, difficult, dangerous) jobs in the face of serious unemployment problems, a low birthrate, and the lack of brides in farming villages, the mounting inflow of foreigners is inevitable, and is sure to increase multicultural families.
The other is the discrimination, prejudice and poverty they suffer from. The hard fact we don’t want to acknowledge, but nobody can deny is that Koreans have double standards for foreigners; while white people enjoy a premium, colored foreigners are shortchanged.
Given this reality, children from multicultural families as well as adults are no exception.
They are stared at and ridiculed in school and, presumably, discriminated by their peers, which, coupled with a high illiteracy rate, make them leave school. Not completing school, they will have difficulty getting jobs, which makes them fall prey to the downward spiral of poverty.
Examining the history of multicultural countries, we can see that each has tried to harmonize diverse ethnic groups.
Though not perfect, for instance, the United States and Singapore have managed to maintain “unity within diversity” with their own unique systems which have evolved over the years. As for Korea, however, the issue of multicultural families is unprecedented, and is likely to pose serious social challenges Therefore, solutions should be actively sought to head off the negative impacts and reap the potential benefits.
For one thing, we can’t emphasize the importance of education enough. Just as early gender equality education has proved to be effective in easing gender inequality in Korea, the education of multiculturalism should be introduced in the curriculum to maximize its effect.
I believe that the sooner its introduction is made, the greater its educational effect will become. Kids brought up like this will have grown up to have more tolerance of differences. In addition, more chances, like homestays and volunteering, to get exposed to multicultural families should be arranged to come into contact with them.
Second, since the problems of multicultural families mostly arise from poverty, the government should come up with diverse welfare services. A national network should be established to grant economic aid, and affirmative action should be practiced. Civic groups should play an active role in staging various events and campaigns.
Last but not least, politicians representing multicultural families should be elected to help them have their voices heard in the policy making process. In this vein, it is desirable for each political party to nominate candidates who can represent multicultural families in the elections.
Whether Korea can succeed in assimilating different ethnic groups into society and making the best use of their resources could be a litmus test for stable social unity and long-term national competitiveness.
If not properly managed, people from multicultural families might harbor resentment and hostility about society and could develop into disruptive forces as has been witnessed in many multicultural societies. I’m hoping that Korea will not follow in their footsteps.