Hansol Park, Jinho Kim
In recent decades, South Korea has transitioned from an ethnically homogeneous nation to a more multicultural society, with foreign-born women marrying Korean men accounting for most new international marriages. Despite government efforts to support integration, marriage-migrant women continue to experience foreign-origin discrimination. This study examines the association between perceived foreign-origin discrimination and acculturative stress, with a focus on distinguishing between the effects of transition into and out of discrimination. This study also examines whether these effects vary by country of origin. This study utilizes five waves (2019-2023) of nationally representative longitudinal data from Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study Ⅱ (MAPS Ⅱ). Asymmetric fixed effects models were employed to estimate the separate impacts of transitioning into and out of discrimination on acculturative stress among marriage-migrant women. Subgroup analyses were conducted to assess heterogeneity in these effects by country of origin. The results reveal significant asymmetries in the relationship between foreign-origin discrimination and acculturative stress. Transitioning into discrimination was associated with increased stress, whereas transitioning out produced a relatively smaller reduction. These asymmetrical effects were particularly pronounced among Southeast Asian marriage-migrant women, likely due to greater cultural distance, limited community support, and more visible ethnic distinctions. These findings highlight the need for anti-discrimination measures that address not only prevention but also recovery. Interventions should be designed to mitigate the lingering psychological burden of discrimination. Special attention should be given to vulnerable subgroups, particularly Southeast Asian marriage-migrant women, through targeted and culturally responsive support programs aimed at promoting long-term psychological well-being and social integration.