Cross-Border Marriage in Korea

This chapter establishes the foundation for understanding cross-border marriage in Korea, situating it within broader Asian trends shaped by economic disparities and demographic shifts. Korea’s marriage migration developed in response to a shortage of brides in rural areas, often with active support from local governments. Building on this context, this chapter examines how commercial brokers became central actors in Korea’s migration infrastructure, adapting to shifting market demands, social criticism, and tightening regulatory oversight while continuing to capitalise on broader demographic anxieties in contemporary Korea. It explores brokers’ multifaceted roles in facilitating migration, their evolving advertising strategies, and their strategic engagement with state policy and civil society interventions. By analysing these dynamics, this chapter sheds light on how brokers sustain Korea’s cross-border marriage system and identifies what makes the Korean case distinct, particularly in how commercial brokerage has been formalised, institutionalised, and persistently resilient in the face of regulation.