Multiracial Koreans
edit혼혈인(사람) | |
---|---|
Total population | |
unknown | |
Regions with significant populations | |
South Korea United States | |
Languages | |
Korean, English, Koryo-mar, and others | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Eurasians and Afro-Asians |
Minun337/sandbox | |
Hangul | |
---|---|
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Honhyeol |
McCune–Reischauer | Honhyŏl |
Multiracial Koreans, sometimes called Honhyeol (Korean: 혼혈인; RR: honhyeolin; McCune-Reischauer: honhyŏlin, lit. "mixed blood"), are Koreans of mixed-race ancestry. The majority of multiracial Koreans do not live in South Korea, but instead were raised in Western countries like the United States.
Multiracial Koreans are a fairly recent occurrence, with the first generation having been born during the Korean War. During the 1950s, the United States stationed many of its servicemen in Asia. South Korea is a homogenous country, with 95.1 percent of its population being ethnic Koreans[1], the total population of multiracial Koreans is unknown.
Terminology
editIn Korean
edit- Honhyeol (혼혈, literally meaning "mixed blood") – Honhyeol is the standard term used to described anyone who is half Korean.
- Han-Mi Honhyeol (한미혼혈) – Han-Mi honhyeol refers to multiracial Koreans who have one Korean parent (한/韓 "Korea") and one American parent (미/美 "America").
- Banban (반반, literally meaning "half-half") – Banban means "half-half".
In other languages
edit- Eurasian (also Wasian) – Somebody with European and Asian ancestry.
- Afro-Asian (also Blasian) – Somebody with African (Black) and Asian ancestry.
- Amerasian – Amerasians are people of American and Asian, primarily East Asian or Southeast Asian ancestry. The term originated as a reference to multiracial children born to local women and American servicement station in Asia, especially during the Korean and Vietnam Wars or Occupied Japan.
Origins
editThe first generation of multiracial Koreans were typically born to Korean mothers and American servicemen that had been stationed in South Korea during the Korean War (1950–1953). It was common for multiracial Korean children to be left abandoned in the streets or dropped of at orphanages, however, some American G.I.'s adopted both monoracial and multiracial Korean orphans.
Notable people
editIn South Korea
edit- Han Hyun-min (한현민) is a South Korean model and actor born to a Nigerian father and Korean mother. He has gained international recognition as the first Korean of African ancestry to walk the catwalks in South Korea and internationally.
- Kim In-soon (김인순), better known by her stage name Insooni (인순이), is a South Korean singer of Korean and African American descent. She first debuted in 1978 as a member of the band Hee Sisters, and is currently a solo artist. She is affiliated with Haemil Hakgyo, a middle school for half Korean youths.
- Vernon, a member of the South Korean K-Pop boy band Seventeen, is Eurasian, born to an American mother and Korean father.
In other countries
edit- Crystal Kay Williams, better known by her stage name Crystal Kay (クリスタル・ケイ・ウィリアムズ), is a Japanese singer, actress, and radio host. She was born to an African American serviceman and Zainichi Korean mother.