Sampling and data collection

The three types of data source in this study includes quantitative data of a questionnaire survey on 208 brides, qualitative data of in-depth interviews with 48 brides (by using open-ended questions), and secondary documents.

To collect quantitative data on 208 Vietnamese brides objectively, we carried out the questionnaire survey. And, to provide deep understandings of Vietnamese brides’ feelings and assessment of their own condition; we conducted in-depth interviews with 48 brides.

Secondary data were collected through KOSIS website, the Multicultural Family Support Centers⁵¹ (MFSCs) and Women Migrant Human Right Center⁵² (WMHRC).

51 In Korea, MFSCs system is established in 2008. The main purposes of MFSCs are providing education, counseling and giving social services, supporting the early settlement, and helping the foreign brides to enjoy stable lives in Korea.

72 4.3.1. Sample sites

The survey⁵³ was conducted in Gangwon, Gyeongsangbuk provinces, and Daegu city.

Gangwon is a very mountainous⁵⁴ province in the northeast of Korea, about 400 km from Seoul.

Gyeongsangbuk is a province in eastern Korea where Vietnamese brides are most concentrated in Korea. Daegu is the third biggest city, located in the southeastern of Korea.

Table 4.1. General descriptions of research sites

foreign brides Vietnamese brides total POP

No No % No

Gangwon 2,876 1,010 35.1 1,487,000

Gyeongsangbuk 6,068 3,027 49.9 2,628,000

Daegu 3,399 1,254 36.9 2,472,000

Gangwon Chuncheon 411 122 29.7 260,000

Hongcheon 207 81 39.1 70,000

Gyeongsangbuk Gumi 568 226 39.8 410,000

Goryeong 129 73 56.6 35,000

Source: KOSIS, 2010

52 These centers belong to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Foreign women who are suffering from domestic violence can get support by calling for emergency help around the clock throughout the year. The centers provide legal and medical services in eight foreign languages, including English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Thai, Mongolian, and Cambodian. Shelter Houses for migrant’s women are also available.

53 Since it is difficult for us to contact with Vietnamese brides within one or two weeks, our collected sample depended on the support from two co-researchers in Korea, including Professor Park Soon Ho (Daegu National University of Education) and Doctor Kim Enn Sook (Research Institute for Gangwon). They directly contacted the staff working in Multicultural Family Support Centers (MFSCs) and Women Migrant Human Right Center to make appointments with Vietnamese brides, help us to do the survey and in-depth interviews in Daegu city, Gyeongsangbuk and Gangwon provinces.

54 Around 81% of total area is woodland

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Except a small number of Vietnamese brides in this study were contacted through the WMHRC in Daegu, most of them were known through local MFSCs in Hongcheon and Chuncheon (Gangwon); Gumi and Goryeong (Gyeongsangbuk) and Deagu city.

Hongcheon is a mountainous county in the central of Gangwon. The economy of Hongcheon largely depends on growing oxen. Chuncheon is the capital of Gangwon. Gumi is a small city in southwest of Gyeongsangbuk. Electronics is the main industry in Gumi. Goryeong is small county in southwest of Gyeongsangbuk.

Research places and sample distribution are presented in Figure 4.1.

Figure 4.1: Sample sites and sample distribution

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We surveyed Vietnamese brides in Daegu because the proportion of Vietnamese brides out of foreign brides in this city is the highest among three biggest cities of Korea, specifically Seoul 13.6%, Busan 33.1%, and Daegu 36.9% (KOSIS, 2010). Moreover, Vietnamese brides in Seoul include brides who first come to Korea as labor migrants, not as foreign brides. We chose Gyeongsangbuk and Gangwon because Vietnamese brides are most concentrated in these rural and mountainous provinces. They account for 49.9% of all foreign brides in Gyeongsangbuk, the highest proportion in relation to other provinces. In Gangwon, the ratio is 35.1%. Vietnamese brides’ concentration in rural areas is explained by the rural Korean men’ preference, as mentioned in chapter 3.

4.3.2. Sample size

We carried out the survey in 2011. The questionnaires were delivered to Vietnamese brides through the MFSCs in Hongcheon, Chuncheon, and Daegu. The total sample size of questionnaire survey is 208, with 113 brides in Daegu; 13 brides in Gyeongsangbuk; and 82 brides in Gangwon.

In-depth interviews were done in two weeks, from 7 -1 2 December, 2010 and from July 31- August 7, 2011. We interviewed 21 brides in Gangwon, 9 brides Gyeongsangbuk, and 18 brides in Daegu. So, the total number of interviewees is 48. In this thesis, nine of their voices are showcased.

Table 4.2. Description of research sample

questionnaire survey in-depth interview

Gangwon 82 Chuncheon 6

Hongcheon 15

Gyeongsangbuk 13 Gumi 6

Goryeong 3

Daegu 113 18

total 208 48

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We conducted in-depth interviews in different places, including in the MFSCs, a coffee shop, the WMHRC in Daegu; and in the brides’ home. At first, we collected the general information by using a questionnaire survey. Then, we made in-depth interview with each bride by taking notes and records. We used Vietnamese language to interview, therefore, Vietnamese brides can express their own opinion, feelings, and thinking without any difficulty.

4.3.3. The participants

Among the 208 sample, 206 brides migrated to Korea for the purpose of marriage; 2 brides first migrated to Korea for working as trainees, then they got married to the Korean men.

The two brides are good at Korean and economically independent. They are very active and in good condition.

Since 203 brides were contacted through MFSCs, Vietnamese brides in this study are in relative better condition in comparison with many others because their husbands and in-laws allow them to go to MFSCs for studying Korean language, culture, and cooking, etc. However, the 5 brides we contacted through the Women Migrant Human Right center in Deagu implied that Vietnamese brides may fall into bad situations and experience different adversities in Korea.