Chungnam Strengthens Support for Multicultural Families and Foreign Residents' Settlement

[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam Province is strengthening support for the settlement of multicultural families and foreign residents in the local community.

On the 26th, the province announced that it will expand the ‘Multicultural Harmony Project’ to help stabilize the settlement of multicultural families, foreign residents, and compatriot families (such as Koryo-saram) living in the region, in response to the increasing trend of these groups.

According to the province, as of November 2021, the total number of foreigners residing in Chungnam was 124,492, accounting for 5.7% of the total regional population. This is the highest ratio nationwide, and the number of multicultural household members among foreign residents in the region is estimated to be around 60,000.

Above all, the number of children from multicultural families in 2021 was a total of 16,759 (6,158 aged 6 and under, 6,681 aged 7 to 12, 2,630 aged 13 to 15, and 1,289 aged 16 to 18), which is 1.67 times higher compared to 6,953 in 2010.

Accordingly, the province will invest a total of 1.55 billion KRW in the Multicultural Harmony Project this year to support the adaptation of multicultural families and foreign residents to the local community and to increase the acceptance of multiculturalism among residents.

The Multicultural Harmony Project will be implemented as an essential program across all 15 cities and counties in Chungnam, including ▲ nurturing global talents among children of multicultural families ▲ supporting employment and entrepreneurship for multicultural families ▲ mutual cultural understanding education ▲ publication of a multicultural newspaper ▲ customized Korean language education for foreign residents.

In addition to the essential programs, the province plans to promote region-specific optional projects such as psychological and emotional support for multicultural families, activation support for self-help groups, settlement support for Koryo-saram, and discovery and promotion of new projects by city and county.

Kim Beom-su, Director of the Women and Family Policy Office of the province, said, “Through strengthening the Multicultural Harmony Project, the province will improve multicultural awareness in the local community and discover and implement field policies that satisfy the needs of multicultural families and foreign residents.”