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[Real Reality]

The Amerasian population is about 15,000 and Kosian 10,000, according to rough estimates by the Pearl S. Buck group. Kosian is a newly coined word for a child from the marriage of a Korean and another Asian national, mainly migrant workers.

"In the past, most Amerasian kids were the offspring of an American GI and a Korean woman, mostly a sex worker. But nowadays, mothers are not typically sex workers. They have a relationship with an American GI which didn't work out. Many are abandoned when the American soldier leaves Korea," Lee Ji-young said.

Nonetheless, the hardships their children have to endure because of their unusual mixed parentage and looks have not changed much.

One out of 10 Amerasian children drops out of elementary school and the rate doubles in middle school. Over 80 percent of the children are from single-mother families, and they face prejudice and discrimination not only at schools but also at workplaces. "Children of Korean-black or Korean-southeastern Asian mix tend to have more of a hard time than those of Korean-Caucasian origin, reflecting the bigotry of our society," Lee said.
By Lee Sun-young, Korea Herald (December 23, 2004)
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2004/12/23/200412230026.asp