Gireogi appa

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Flock of geese during autumn migration
Flock of geese during autumn migration

Gireogi appa (Korean: 기러기 아빠 literally "goose dad") is a Korean man who works in Korea while his wife and children stay in an English-speaking country for the sake of the children's education.[1] The term is inspired by the fact that geese are a species that migrate, just as the father must travel a great distance to see his family.[2]

Penguins are a well-known example of flightless birds
Penguins are a well-known example of flightless birds

If the man has the finances to pay for frequent visits to see his family, he is called an "eagle dad" (독수리 아빠) but if finances constrict his ability to travel abroad, he is known as a "penguin dad" (펭귄 아빠) because he cannot fly and may go without seeing his family for years at a time.[3]

Estimates of the number of goose fathers range as high as 200,000 men in Korea.[4] More than 40,000 South Korean schoolchildren are believed to be living in USA, England, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand expressly to increase English-speaking ability. In at least some of the cases, a South Korean mother will choose to live abroad with her children with the additional reason of avoiding her mother-in-law, with whom a historically stressful relationship may exist due to Korean Confucianism.[5]

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[edit] References

  1. ^ Lee, Kapson. "Korean 'Goose Families' Migrate for Education", New America Media, Oct 26, 2004. 
  2. ^ "The plight of Korean 'goose families'", Asian Pacific Post, November 03 2004. 
  3. ^ "South Korean 'Goose Dads' Face Sacrifice, Loneliness for Children's Sake", Chosun Ilbo, Sep.28,2006. 
  4. ^ Kim, Eun-gyong. "History of English Education in Korea", The Korea Times, 04-02-2008. 
  5. ^ Onishi, Norimitsu. "For English Studies, Koreans Say Goodbye to Dad", NY Times, June 8, 2008. 

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