Mongolians in South Korea

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Mongolians in South Korea
Total population

20,000-30,000
Regions with significant populations
Seoul
Languages
Mongolian, Korean
Religions
Not known

Mongolians in South Korea form one of the world's largest populations of emigrants from Mongolia. South Korea's estimated Mongolian population of 20,000-30,000 is larger than the combined total of Mongolian Americans, Mongolians in Japan, and Mongolians in Europe. 70% are believed to be residing in the country illegally.[1][2] The government of South Korea estimates that one out of every two urban households in Mongolia have a family member working in South Korea.[3] The growth of the population has been so rapid that the Mongolian embassy in Seoul is largely unable to provide assistance to Mongolian residents; as a result, Mongolians have set up their own non-governmental organisations to provide mutual assistance.[4] Most Mongolians in South Korea are migrant workers employed in heavy industry.[5] Some also run restaurants, trading companies, and grocery stores in Seoul, especially in the so-called "Central Asia Village" in Jung-gu's Gwanghui-dong, near Dongdaemun.[6][7][8]

Mongolians seeking to migrate to South Korea for work are required by South Korea's Ministry of Labour to obtain a score of at least 120 on the Korean Language Proficiency Test in order to receive permission to work in all industries; however, the required score for working in agriculture, fishing, and construction is lower. Demand to take the test is extremely high; for the 2007 sitting, some candidates queued for four days in chaotic conditions outside Ulan Bator's Central Stadium in May to register. A total of 14,929 candidates (9,892 men and 5,037 women) signed up for the test that year, of whom 14,606 actually sat for it; 44% (6,487) scored higher than 120 points, while 91% met the minimum mark for agriculture, fishing, and construction.[9][10]

Mongolians living in South Korea cite the age-based hierarchy of the Korean social structure as a major cultural difference with their homeland and a significant barrier to adaptation, noting that in Mongolia, people with age differences of five years still speak to one another as equals, but in Korea, they are obligated to use honorific forms of speech to address people even one year older than them. Others assert that Koreans are more polite to Westerners than to other Asians.[4]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Mongolians, Koreans share ancient bonds", Taipei Times, 2003-10-13. Retrieved on 2007-08-17. 
  2. ^ Chae, Seong-jin. "도심속의 "몽골 타워" (The "Mongol Tower" in the heart of the city)", The Chosun Ilbo, 2003-10-10. Retrieved on 2007-08-17. 
  3. ^ Han, Jae-hyuck. "Today in Mongolia: Everyone can speak a few words of Korean", Office of the President, Republic of Korea, 2006-05-05. Retrieved on 2007-08-17. 
  4. ^ a b "Sea Breeze Helps Korea's Mongolians Speak with One Voice", The Chosun Ilbo, 2005-03-29. Retrieved on 2007-09-05. 
  5. ^ Phillips, Simon. "A Mongolian Migrant Worker's Story", Korea Times, 2007-06-19. Retrieved on 2007-08-17. 
  6. ^ "No melting pot, but Seoul still flavored with several dashes of migrant communities", Seoul Metropolitan Government, 2006-12-19. Retrieved on 2007-08-17. 
  7. ^ "A Little Corner of Overseas in Seoul", The Chosun Ilbo, 2007-04-05. Retrieved on 2007-08-17. 
  8. ^ Koehler, Robert. "The Silk Road Leads to Seoul: Dongdaemun's Central Asia Village and Namyangju's Mongolian Cultural Village", Seoul Magazine, 2006-04-19. Retrieved on 2007-08-17. 
  9. ^ Sh., Batmonkh. "13,000 Qualify to Enter Korea", UB Post, 2007-06-27. Retrieved on 2007-08-17. 
  10. ^ "Chaos reigns in registration process", The Mongol Messenger, 2007-05-22. Retrieved on 2007-08-17. 

[edit] External links

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Mongolians outside of Mongolia
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Immigrants and expatriates in Korea
Prior to the division of Korea
In North Korea
In South Korea
Filipinos · Indonesians · Malaysians · Mongolians
See also