Overview of migrant women's health in South Korea: Policy recommendations

Abstract

Every year, the Republic of Korea (Korea) welcomes new immigrants, thereby transitioning from a homogenous society to a multicultural country. Of these immigrants, migrant workers represent the largest group, followed by women who immigrate as spouses to Korean men. One great concern of Korea's policymakers and healthcare providers is how Korea's healthcare system can handle the deterioration of health observed among married Asian female immigrants. The health care system, mediated by the competitive relationship between local clinics and hospitals exacerbate the problem. The authors present possible solutions to the problems through a conceptual model of the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES), Korean healthcare system, food insecurity (FI), and health status. Different policies are proposed including: before you/she come (s) policy, foreign women workforce participation policy, poverty alleviation policy, health insurance policy for migrant women, health professional training policy, food insecurity policy and dietary acculturation policy. More government owned hospitals or private clinics should be built in rural areas. Married migrant women with good income seem to enjoy better health. Developing rural areas though economic empowerment will certainly create job opportunities.