VOA慢速英語:韓國移民新娘的離婚率高

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From VOA Learning English, this is As It Is. I'm AnnaMatteo in Washington.

Marrying someone from a different culture is very common. People do it allthe time. And many international marriage brokers earn large profits byplaying matchmaker for people. But what happens when the marriagebusiness starts to resemble the selling of women? Some experts areexamining the situation of migrant brides in South Korea.

Tens of thousands of South Korean men have married foreign women overthe past 10 years. However, the government reports that many of thosemarriages end in divorce. And women’s rights experts are concerned abouthow these immigrant women are being treated. They are asking the Koreangovernment to make rules for these marriages.

Lee Soo-yeon is a Vietnamese migrant bride. Six years ago, she left Vietnamto marry a South Korean man. Now 36-years old, she works as a translator at a center for immigrant women in Asan, a city 48 kilometers south of Seoul. She speaks Korean and uses a Korean name, but Ms. Lee is no longer withher Korean husband.

“At first we could not communicate well. And later we began to fight a lot. Hehit me. I do not hate him now, but I realized he has a drinking problem”

The couple’s young child now lives with Ms. Lee’s mother-in-law. She says it is unlikely she will reunite with her husband. She blames the marriage agencythat introduced them in Vietnam.

“Marriage agencies do not provide any information about the men theyintroduce to the women. We need to know more about these men, theirpersonalities and their financial stability.”

A couple in Thailand shoot an arrow through a heart on their wedding day. Unfortunately, many migrant brides in South Korea don't have such happy marriages.

Divorces among international couples are on the rise. As a result, the SouthKorean government has made new rules for giving marriage visas. There arenew financial requirements and the couple must demonstrate that they canactually talk to each other.

Chung Chin-sung is a sociology professor at Seoul National University. Sheadvises the Korean government on multicultural family policy. She says alanguage requirement could help improve marriages. But, she adds, the newvisa rules do not deal with the main problem of these marriages. She sayswomen are being sold like a product.

“That kind of marriage market where, especially women, become a product,like a product, not a human being, should be corrected.”

Ms. Chung suggests banning agencies that arrange quick marriages betweenpeople who barely know each other.

Jolly Regacho is a counselor at the Asan migrant center. She says if theSouth Korean government really wants to make stronger marriages, moreeducation is important. The husband, she feels, should also learn about hiswife’s culture.

“They should also make a project for the husband to learn the culture of theirwife as well.”

Even with the break-up of her marriage, migrant bride Lee Soo-yeon says shedoes not plan to go back to Vietnam. She says Korea is her new home.

This report was written by VOA reporters in Korea, Jason Strother and MalteKollenberg.

And I’m Anna Matteo.

What do you think about the situation of migrant brides and internationalmarriages?

Do you think the Korean government should regulate this industry? Let usknow in our comment section where you can share your opinions and discussthe issue with other listeners.