A Look at Asian American Studies - Emery McKee - Ryan Caragher - Emma Rohrer - Gabe Velazquez

Here Comes the Bride... Not Quite Refugees and Not Quite Immigrants The transformation of Korean women and children into proper Americans created a gray zone of ambiguity. Perceived as refugees, immigrants, and quasi-Americans, Koreans desired immediate safety from war along with hopes for professional employment, love, marriage, and the desire to leave South Korea all together. According to Yuh, the vast majority of Korean women married to American soldiers, came from “camptowns” or the “grijichon,” as laborers who lacked access to education, came from financially precarious backgrounds, and were displaced by multiple colonial powers, including Japanese and American occupations. These women perceived marriage to US Soldiers as an accessible pathway out of the violence and harsh livelihood in Korea.