A Kosian or Onurian (Korean: 코시안 or 온누리안; MR: K'osian or Onurian) is a person of mixed Korean parent and other Asian parent, or a family which mixes Korean and other Asian cultures.[1] The term was first coined in 1997 by intercultural families to refer to themselves.[2][3] The term is most commonly applied to children of a South Korean father and a Southeast Asian mother; its use spread in the early 2000s as international marriages became more common in rural areas.[3] It is also used to refer to children of South Asian male laborers and South Korean women.[4] The term is considered offensive by some who prefer to identify themselves or their children as Korean.[5][6] Moreover, the Korean office of Amnesty International says that the word Kosian represents racial discrimination.[7] Thus, The Korean Language Refinement Organization managed by National Institute of Korean Language suggest Onurian instead because of its negative effect on Korean society.
According to Pearl S. Buck International, there are approximately 30,000 Kosians in South Korea.[8] Kosian children, like those of other mixed-race backgrounds in Korea, often face discrimination.[9]
Notable Kosians edit
- Dok2, rapper
- Wonho Chung, television personality and comedians
- Hwang Min-woo, child actor, dancer, and singer
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "코시안의 집이란". Kosian House website. Archived from the original on 16 November 2006. Retrieved 1 November 2006.
- ^ "KOSIAN Community". Ansan Immigrant Center website. Retrieved 1 November 2006.
- ^ Lee, Mary (2008). "Mixed Race Peoples in the Korean National Imaginary and Family". Korean Studies. 32: 56–85. doi:10.1353/ks.0.0010. S2CID 143735741 – via ResearchGate.
- ^ "Myth of Pure-Blood Nationalism Blocks Multi-Ethnic Society". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 23 August 2006. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
- ^ "" '코시안'(Kosian) 쓰지 마라! (Do not use Kosian)"". Naver news (Korean language) February 23, 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2006. See English-language reaction on The Marmot's Hole.
- ^ "AMNESTY International South Korea Section 07" (PDF). Amnesty.or.kr. 2006. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
Do not use the new word Kosian
- ^ "Ward's Win Brings 'Race' to the Fore". The Korea Times. 9 February 2006. Archived from the original on 29 May 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2006.
- ^ "For mixed-race children in Korea, happiness is too far away". Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on 1 March 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2006.
External links edit
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