Amerasians in the Korean school system: a study of changing attitudes

1988-03-31According to the literature on the subject, it can be assumed that the prejudice faced by Amerasians is great. More than once the author of this paper has heard Americans state that this is the most racist country they have ever seen. It has been stated by some working to help Amerasians in Korea that Korean Amerasians face more prejudice and have a worse situation than in any other country where sizable numbers of Amerasians exist; with the possible exception of Vietnam. For this reason, at one point in early 1982, a special immigration bill for Amerasians was introduced into the U.S. Congress which would have covered only Korea had it passed. In October of 1982, a different version passed Congress and was signed into law by President Reagan covering the countries of Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Kampuchea, and Korea. ❧ Although more than a dozen organizations have had projects over the years to help Amerasians and there have been three census/surveys done; no one has even done a scientific study of the fatherless Amerasians in the Korean school system. This study aims to ascertain the degree of prejudice against these children in the Korean school system and their self-image