SEOUL, 11 June 2014 – Filipina counselors, interpreters, and volunteers working in emergency support centers for migrant women, multicultural centers, and NGOs throughout Korea, along with leaders of Filipina spouses associations, attended the second part of a daylong forum held at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul on 10 June 2014 to tackle the problems of Filipino marriage migrants in South Korea.

The “Follow-up Consultation Dialogue on Multiculturalism in Korea: Policy Direction for Filipino Marriage Migrants” served as cover issues and concerns that were not adequately addressed in the first forum, which was also organized by the Philippine Embassy in Seoul on 04 March 2014 in commemoration of National Women’s Month in the Philippines.

“Before I arrived in Korea, I have already been following with great concern the developments on issues and problems our women have been facing here in Korea”, said Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez in his opening remarks, after thanking the participants of the forum who came from as far as Gwangju and Jeju Island.

“As I stand in front of you now, I am greatly encouraged to see all of you, the real life heroes, coming from different parts of Korea, working in various organizations, and yet united in trying to address one common concern – the welfare of migrant Filipina women in Korea,” Ambassador Hernandez said. “You are doing all these admirably while preparing your children for school, taking care of your home, as well as, for many of you, even your in-laws.”

Philippine-born Rep. Jasmine Lee, the first naturalized Korean citizen to become a member of the South Korean National Assembly, opened the day’s program at the Embassy’s Multipurpose Hall by giving a detailed presentation on the new marriage laws of Korea, including how special cases may be resolved under the new laws.

Among the major issues raised were the cases of runaway and physically abused Filipino wives, many of whom were married to Koreans through illegal operations of Korean brokers in the Philippines. With stricter marriage rules now in place in Korea, the brokers are now trying to find loopholes in the Korean and Philippine marriage procedures, including registering marriages formalized in Korea without the Filipino partner ever setting foot inside Korea.

Twenty-seven (27) participants attended the forum, which featured a Korean immigration official and Philippine Embassy officials for multicultural issues and social welfare giving talks as speakers.