Gender, Migration, and Daily Mobility: Marriage Migrants in Rural South Korea

This study examines the mobility constraints faced by marriage migrant women in rural South Korea, focusing on their experiences in Gongju-si. Transnational migration to South Korea has increased in recent decades, with over 80% of marriage migrants being women. These women often live in low-income, smallholder farming households, facing spatial and temporal limitations because of inadequate transport infrastructure and gendered household responsibilities. Through interviews with 23 marriage migrants, this study reveals how restricted mobility affects their social integration and autonomy. Findings reveal that rural South Korea’s autocentric infrastructure marginalizes non-drivers, disproportionately affecting women. Caregiving responsibilities and entrenched gender norms further restrict marriage migrant women’s mobility, limiting access to resources, employment, and social engagement. Despite these challenges, the migrants employ strategies such as learning to drive, building social support through smartphones, engaging in community advocacy, and utilizing their transnational moving experience. This research underscores the need for policy interventions addressing both spatial and temporal aspects of the mobility of migrant women, advocating for better mobility and digital connectivity in rural planning.