The Korean Gender Ministry signed an agreement Tuesday with the Philippine government to ensure safer international marriages for both spouses.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, which upholds the interests of Filipino emigrants, to ensure safer international marriages.

The government hopes to accommodate the rising number of marriages between Korean men and Filipina women by offering education and vocational training here.

Data shows that in 2001 the government issued 502 marriage licenses between Korean men and Filipina women, 980 licenses in 2005 and 1,906 licenses in 2010.

The two governments will also run a joint education program for spouses before they leave the Philippines, ensure accurate information exchange between spouses and try to stop illegal marriage practices.

The ministry runs similar education programs in Vietnam and Mongolia and already has a similar agreement signed with Vietnam.

“We plan to work hard to ensure that a healthy international marriage culture is created between the two countries through this MOU,” said Minister Kim Kum-lae.

Kim added that she hoped the government would be able to secure more rights for immigrant spouses through the agreement.

According to government data, as of January 2011 there are some 12,000 immigrant spouses from the Philippines out of about 210,000 immigrant spouses. Filipina women make up the third largest group behind Chinese and Vietnamese.

By Robert Lee (robert@heraldcorp.com)