Trends in Marriage Migration and the Well-Being of Southeast Asian Wives in South Korea

Marriage migration of women is a global phenomenon; however, social work's response to the needs of these women and their families has been slow. This article reviews the trends in marriage migration in South Korea, focusing on women from Southeast Asia, and examines emerging research on this population over the 10-year period from 2000 to 2009 in the following areas: acculturative stress, adaptation and life satisfaction, marital and family relations, depression, and human rights. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research and makes suggestions for policy and social work practices to improve the well-being of marriage migrant women and their families.