Overview

THE POPULATION OF SOUTH KOREA WAS ONCE SPREAD FAIRLY EVENLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. TODAY, HOWEVER, ONE FOURTH OF ALL SOUTH KOREANS LIVE IN THE CAPITAL, SEOUL. BECAUSE OF THIS SHIFT, MANY RURAL AREAS ARE NOW ALMOST EMPTY, AND ELDERLY PEOPLE ARE OFTEN THE ONLY ONES WHO REMAIN. THERE IS A NOTICEABLE SHORTAGE OF YOUNG PEOPLE, AND IN PARTICULAR A SHORTAGE OF YOUNG WOMEN WHO LEAVE TO SEEK BETTER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CITIES.

AS WITH ANY SHORTAGE, DEMAND QUICKLY GROWS. HOWEVER, BUSINESS IS OFTEN DRIVEN BY PROFIT, AND ETHICS DO NOT ALWAYS COME FIRST. JOURNALIST KHUE PHAM TRAVELED TO VIETNAM AND SOUTH KOREA FOR THE GERMAN NEWSPAPER DIE ZEIT TO FOLLOW THE JOURNEY OF YOUNG VIETNAMESE WOMEN WHO MOVE TO KOREA TO MARRY KOREAN MEN. AGENCIES ARRANGE MANY OF THESE MARRIAGES, AND THE INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO THRIVE.

I WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE GERMAN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER “DIE ZEIT” AS A PHOTOGRAPHER AND TRAVELED TO THE SMALL KOREAN TOWN OF BONGDONG TO DOCUMENT A KOREAN–VIETNAMESE FAMILY.

PHOTOGRAPHER

NILS CLAUSS

CLIENT

DIE ZEIT