BEYOND THE KDRAMA - S Korean men' forgotten children

 

There are two primary groups of children born to South Korean men and local women who have been abandoned in Asian countries: Kopinos in the Philippines and Lai Daihan in Vietnam. 

1. Kopinos (Philippines)

The term "Kopino" combines "Korean" and "Filipino". 

• Current Situation: It is estimated that there are 30,000 Kopino children in the Philippines.
• Background: Most are born to South Korean men who visited the Philippines for business, tourism, or English language studies.
• Abandonment: Many of these fathers returned to South Korea after the pregnancy or birth and broke off all contact, leaving the mothers to raise the children in poverty.
• Legal Challenges: While some mothers have successfully sued for child support in South Korean courts, many fathers still refuse to pay, and there are limited penalties for non-compliance.

2. Lai Daihan (Vietnam)

The term "Lai Daihan" refers to mixed-ancestry individuals born to South Korean fathers and Vietnamese mothers, particularly during the Vietnam War. 

• Estimated Number: Estimates vary widely, ranging from 5,000 to 30,000 individuals.
• Historical Context: Most were born between 1964 and 1973 when South Korean soldiers were deployed to fight in the Vietnam War. Many of these births resulted from widespread sexual violence by South Korean troops.
• Current Status: Many Lai Daihan and their mothers live in extreme poverty and have faced social marginalization and discrimination in Vietnam for decades. The South Korean government has never officially acknowledged or investigated these allegations. 

Ongoing Support & Campaigns

• Justice for Lai Dai Han: This campaign group seeks an official apology from South Korea and raises money for educational scholarships for the community.
• ☆ (Korea contradicts this by seeking an apology from Japan for "comfort women" while they abused other poorer Asians in the same manner.
• Kopino Children Association (KCA): Organizations like the KCA and WE Love Kopino (WLK) provide shelters and help mothers track down fathers to seek support.