Gwanak-gu Launches Customized Support Program for Multicultural Families' Adaptation

Operation of Korean Language Education for Adults and Children and Multicultural Family Mentoring Program from March... Providing Demand-Centered Customized Services for Multicultural Families' Community Adaptation and Independence

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) is promoting customized support policies to improve the quality of life and ensure stable early settlement of multicultural families in the area.

The total number of multicultural families residing in Gwanak-gu is 11,273, ranking fourth among Seoul's autonomous districts. Accordingly, the district provides demand-centered customized services for the adaptation and self-reliance of multicultural families in the local community.

First, Korean language education is provided by dividing classes into adult and children groups to improve the Korean language skills of marriage migrants, other immigrants, and children of multicultural families.

The adult classes consist of four groups: Beginner Class 1 & 2, Elementary Class, and Pronunciation Correction Class, offering step-by-step customized learning. The children’s classes are composed of three groups: 6-7 years old Class 1 & 2 for preschool children and lower elementary grades, and a lower elementary class, providing age-appropriate Korean language education.

A mentoring program is also operated to facilitate smooth adaptation of multicultural families. Immigrants in the early stages of arrival are matched 1:1 with local residents to provide necessary local information for life in Korea, as well as emotional support for immigrants struggling with language, cultural, and environmental differences.

The program is conducted at the Gwanak-gu Healthy Family and Multicultural Family Support Center (35, Sillim-ro 3-gil, 3rd-4th floors) from March to November and is held online due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Applications and inquiries about the program can be made at the Gwanak-gu Healthy Family and Multicultural Family Center.

In addition, various programs such as home education for multicultural families, support for children's language development and growth, interpretation and translation, case management, and employment support for marriage immigrants are being conducted.

Detailed information about the programs can be found on the Healthy Family and Multicultural Family Center website.

Furthermore, the district operates the ‘Gwanak-gu Multicultural Migrant Plus Center’ (35, Sillim-ro 3-gil, 3rd floor), which was selected in a Ministry of the Interior and Safety public contest and opened in June 2019 as the second center in Seoul, and the ‘Gwanak-gu Multicultural Family Exchange and Communication Space’ (5, Nakseongdae-ro 4ga-gil, 4th floor of Nakseongdae Community Center), which was selected in a Ministry of Gender Equality and Family public contest and opened in January last year.

Through these, the district is fully committed to providing various services for multicultural families in the area, including linkage with Ministry of Justice services, self-help groups for marriage immigrants, and creating communication spaces with local residents.

In particular, since 2008, the district has held an annual multicultural family expo where multicultural families and local residents harmonize through multicultural performances and world cultural experiences.

Last year, due to the impact of COVID-19, an online festival was held using YouTube’s ‘Live Gwanak,’ receiving great responses from residents. The district plans to hold the event again this September in line with the COVID-19 situation.

Mayor Park Jun-hee of Gwanak-gu said, “We continuously provide demand-centered customized services for the adaptation and self-reliance of multicultural families in our district, and especially, we have swiftly transitioned to and operated non-face-to-face services to prevent service gaps caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to carry out various projects where multicultural families and local residents can communicate and interact with each other.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.