Currently, the Vietnamese community in Korea of nearly 300,000 people includes some 80,000 Vietnamese-Korean blended families, serving as a bridge to connect and develop multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries.
Surmounting the difficulties and confusion of the first days in Korea, Vietnamese brides gradually integrate into their new life abroad and have done their utmost to have a better life for themselves and their families.
Tran Thi Phuong Thao of Tien Giang province, who has been living in Busan City for 20 years, told VOV that when they first came to Korea, language difference was a big obstacle.
“I had to learn the Korean language in order to integrate into daily life in Korea. In Busan, there are many Vietnamese women coming from various parts of Vietnam and we are close to each other like siblings in the family. There are more than 100 Vietnamese people in my district,” said Thao.
“In fact, Vietnam and Korea share similarities. My husband has retired now. I’m working for a company making school uniforms. My oldest child is a university student and my youngest is in 6th grade. I think my life is stable. Once both the husband and wife can communicate and sympathize with each other, life can be happy.”
Living in Busan for 13 years, To Thi Kim Ngoc from Can Tho city told VOV that she has 3 children, the oldest is a 5th grader, the second is in 3rd grade, and the youngest in kindergarten.
According to Ngoc, if one is good at the Korean language, it is not difficult to find a job there. The average salary is between 2 and 2.1 million won (1,500 USD) a month.
“A family needs about 4 million won per month for living expenses. My husband and I earn more than 5 million won a month. Multicultural centers and the Vietnamese Embassy have support hotlines,” said Ngoc,
Considering South Korea their second homeland, Vietnamese women raise their children, teach them the Vietnamese language, and reinforce the need to preserve Vietnamese traditions.
Le Thi Kim Pho from Kien Giang province, who has lived in Busan City for 8 years, said, “I teach my children both Korean and Vietnamese languages, so when they return to Vietnam, they can communicate with their relatives.”
She said she also teaches her children Vietnamese culture, songs, and lullabies and tell them about President Ho Chi Minh who helped Vietnam gain independence and freedom.
“The multicultural center for foreign brides supports us in language, life experiences, culture, and ways to raise children,” Pho concluded.
The Vietnamese community in Korea has established different groups offering programs for Vietnamese brides, job introduction, online sales, or Korean language learning to help Vietnamese peers integrate into and share experiences of living and working in the host country.
Many Vietnamese brides in Korea have become a main support for their husband's family.
“The Vietnamese community integrates well and members support each other. There are groups on Facebook to share life experiences,” Jung Jun Yuong, whose father is Korean and mother a Vietnamese in Busan City, said.
Vietnamese-Korean multicultural families have greatly contributed to cultural exchange and connection between the two countries. More particularly, Vietnamese brides have preserved the Vietnamese cultural identity and have promoted the image of the Vietnamese nation and people in Korea.