Bride Trafficking in East Asia: The South Korean Context and Transnational Dynamics.

In this thesis I will address the major phenomenon of bride trafficking in Southeast Asia, a persisting issue that involves numerous countries, from poorest to richest. The issue will be addressed with a particular attention to the case of South Korea, where bride trafficking is still an employed practice. Despite its importance this issue is often overlooked because of the class, gender, and race of the women involved. This thesis will highlight the problem from the point of view of migration studies connected to international relations with an in depth analysis of marriage migration policies in South Korea and the cooperation between the nation and other countries, particularly the United States of America, in anti-trafficking policies. The first chapter will be dedicated to the definition and normative framework of bride trafficking. I will give an overview of the historical developments of the phenomenon in the Southeast Asian context, furthermore, I will talk about bride trafficking as a gendered phenomenon of migration as it involves and often coerces women or even young girls into cross-boarders, exploitative marriages. In the second chapter I will focus my attention on South Korea as an active actor in the bride trafficking networks. I will first analyse how the socio-economic condition of the country, especially in the rural areas, affects the demand for foreign brides, then I will delve into the condition of women in the Korean society. Finally, I will talk about what it means to be a migrant in South Korea. The third and final chapter will be dedicated to a deeper analysis of the international relations that South Korea engages regarding the issue of bride trafficking. I will especially mention the United States as an active actor in these relations, and I will also examine the role of NGOs and how they contribute to anti-trafficking policies. In conclusion, this thesis explores bride trafficking in Southeast Asia as a gendered form of migration which is shaped by social, economic, and political inequalities. Through an in-depth focus on South Korea, I will examine how domestic conditions, international relations, and migration policies interact to favor or oppose to the phenomenon, highlighting the need for more comprehensive and gender-sensitive approaches to anti-trafficking efforts.