'Multicultural Family Survey' Conducted Throughout August

Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Conducts Multicultural Family Survey on Over 32,000 Households
Additional Questions on Economic Situation, Childcare Difficulties, and Remote Learning Environment Included

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will conduct the "2021 National Multicultural Family Survey" targeting approximately 32,000 households starting from August 2 to understand the status and conditions of multicultural families.

The Multicultural Family Survey is a nationwide survey conducted every three years. The results of the survey will be announced in the first half of next year. The Korea Statistical Promotion Institute will carry out the survey, and the Korean Women's Development Institute will analyze the content.

The survey is conducted to grasp the status and needs of multicultural families, including the significant increase in the number of school-age (ages 7 to 18) children and adolescents from multicultural families. The number of school-age children and adolescents from multicultural families increased from 88,000 in 2016 to 148,000 in 2019.

Surveys will be conducted separately for marriage immigrants, naturalized citizens, their spouses, and children (ages 9 to 24), covering various areas such as the economic status, family relationships, and lifestyle of multicultural families. Survey items include household composition and characteristics, married life, child-rearing, economic activity status, school life, career, and educational support. To analyze changes in the living conditions of multicultural families due to COVID-19, questions about changes in economic situations, difficulties in child care, and learning environments due to remote classes have been added.

The survey method is primarily face-to-face interviews, but internet surveys and questionnaire distribution followed by collection visits will be maximized in parallel. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, surveyors will strictly adhere to quarantine management guidelines such as daily self-checks and social distancing according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' instructions while conducting household visit interviews.

Kim Kwon-young, Director of Family Policy, stated, "The results of this survey will be used as data for policy formulation to support multicultural families, such as the '4th Basic Plan for Multicultural Family Policy (2023?2027)' to be established next year." He added, "The survey is the only large-scale survey that can identify the status and policy needs of multicultural families, and we ask for the active participation of households selected as samples to ensure the smooth progress of the survey."