AMERICAN RED CROSS PROFILE: KOREA    
 
        Compiled by
        Maria Weir
        Project Specialist
        Disaster Services Department
        American Red Cross
        WeirM@usa.redcross.org

        Red Cross disaster services staff has frequent contact with various immigrant individuals and communities across
        the United States. On many occasions, Red Cross staff has experienced intercultural miscommunication in the field.
        To address this issue, the national headquarters in D.C. decided to create a number of products that will help Red
        Cross workers work in a more culturally sensitive fashion. Part of this initiative involves creating a number of profiles
        for the major immigrant groups in the United States.  The profile of South Korea was written by Ms. Maria Weir
        and the Editor-in-Chief of SKAS (M. Y. Han) reviewed it and recommended a few modifications.

        A few words of caution is due.  The document, linked below, is not set in stone and the local chapters of Red Cross
        will be working with local associations to change document as they see fit.  Furthermore, the Red Cross is in the
        process of recruiting interpreters and cultural brokers from various immigrant groups, which they realize is
        superior to using a document.   The document should not be viewed as over-generalizztions and perhaps even
        stereotyping; it represents only one part of a larger Red Cross initiative and not merely a "how-to manual" that will
        govern definitively Red Cross interaction with Koreans and Korean communities. Perhaps it might be useful also to
        urge individuals to contact their local chapters if they are interested in serving as an interpreter or translator in times
        of disaster.

         American Red Cross Profile: South Korea