Pinay in Korean parliament looking into plight of ‘Kopinos’

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine-born Jasmine Lee, the first naturalized Korean citizen to win a seat in the South Korean Parliament, has vowed to reach out to Korean-Filipino (Kopino) children in the Philippines abandoned by their Korean fathers.

Lee, who hails from Davao City, and four other members of the South Korean parliament are in Manila to look into the situation of Kopino children following the airing of a documentary on three major television networks in Korea.

She said leaders of the Kopino Children Association shelter in Quezon City have raised concerns about children – and their Filipina mothers – who have been neglected by their Korean fathers.

“Last year three major networks in Korea did a documentary regarding Kopino children. But the issue was kind of distorted in Korea as the children were described as children born out of wedlock from Filipina entertainers and GROs,” Lee told The STAR, referring to guest relations officers or entertainment workers.

She added that even children of married Korean and Filipino couples were referred to as Kopinos.

“They hate the fact that their kids are being called Kopinos. They want them to be called Ko-Fil (Korean-Filipino), not Kopinos,” Lee said.

She said this is the first time that the South Korean lawmakers are getting involved with the Kopinos, estimated at about 10,000.

Lee, whose committee memberships in the National Assembly include foreign affairs, trade and unification, and children, population and environment, said the South Korean parliament decided to lay the basic foundation to help Kopino children.

Lee, an advocate of multi-cultural families and the Filipino community in South Korea and a mother of two, said she is not only looking at the situation of Kopinos but of all children in Southeast Asia with Korean parents.

The visiting South Korean lawmakers want to hear stories from the children and their mothers to gather more information about Kopino children.

The association requested assistance from the Korean government for the education of Kopino children in the Philippines.

Lee met her husband Dong-ho when she was still a college student at the Ateneo de Davao. Her husband died in 2010.