Filipino Kids of Absent Korean Fathers Seek Compensation

Abandoned children of Korean men in the Philippines are seeking compensation and help finding their fathers.

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The tagline of a website trying to find Korean fathers who abandoned the children they had with Filipinas reads, "Please contact us if you know a Kopino dad". Kopino or Korinoy is a coined word for children of mixed Korean and Filipino parentage. The website publishes the names of absconding Korean fathers and is operated by a Korean, Koo Bon-chang.

Koo used to run a language school in the Philippines but set up the website three years ago when he found out about the hardships of these abandoned children. He posts photos of the fathers brought to him by the Filipina mothers as well as any information on where in Korea they now live. The photos are taken down once it is confirmed that they are back in touch with the mothers.

"There are many cases in which the fathers call and accuse me of violating their privacy", Koo said. "In one instance a Korean father hired thugs to harass me".

So far, the website has published information on 66 runaway fathers, and 40 of them contacted the mothers. Most of them agreed to send alimony.

According to the aid group Kopino Children Association the number of such kids is estimated at around 20,000-30,000. Most do not know what their fathers look like. Last year some 1.6 million Koreans visited the Philippines, accounting for 24.7 percent of all tourists.

A growing number of Koreans go to the Philippines for business and studies because of the affordable prices and the islands' use of English in schools. That also means more and more Korean men shack up with Filipinas during their stay, be they bargirls or respectable women.

More and more Filipina mothers turn to the courts to seek compensation. A Korean court ruled in 2012 that it will recognize paternity based on DNA tests, opening the floodgates for such suits. Around 60 cases are pending in Korean courts.

A staffer at the association said, "The issue could be resolved much more easily if the fathers took responsibility for their actions rather than having their photos posted on the website and having to go to court".