Business Community Strengthens Support for Migrant Background Families... Chey Tae-won Pledges to Increase Jobs (Comprehensive)

KCCI New Entrepreneurship Council 5th Sharing Project
Woori Financial Group Supports Unregistered Migrant Children and Others

The business community is helping multicultural children and adolescents, foreign worker families, and other migration-background populations settle in Korea. Choi Tae-won, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), also emphasized his commitment to expanding support by increasing job opportunities related to migration-background populations.

Chairman Choi Tae-won of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who participated in the 5th Together Sharing Project, is giving closing remarks.
[Photo by Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry]

On the 24th, Chairman Choi made these remarks at the 5th Together Sharing Project event hosted by the KCCI’s New Entrepreneurship Council (ERT) at the Ansan Global Multicultural Center in Gyeonggi Province. The event was attended by Choi Tae-won, chairman of KCCI, Lim Jong-ryong, chairman of Woori Financial Group, and Bae Hae-dong, chairman of the Gyeonggi Chamber of Commerce Federation, among others.

Chairman Choi introduced the activities of ERT and the significance of new entrepreneurship, expressing his agreement on the necessity of supporting migration-background families.

He said, "The migration-background population now exceeds 5% of the total domestic population, and their social significance is expected to grow further, but social interest and corporate support remain insufficient. I hope that systems and environments for them will be established."

He added, "If the government and companies pay more attention and support them, it will be a good solution for regional economic recovery by addressing population decline and labor shortages. We will also change systems where possible to create as many jobs as we can."

The migration-background population refers to individuals who themselves or whose parents hold foreign nationality at birth or currently. This includes foreign workers, marriage immigrants, multicultural families, and overseas Koreans with foreign nationality. According to the government, the domestic migration-background population was 2.26 million as of 2022 and is expected to reach about 4.04 million, or 8% of the total population, by 2042.

Participants at the event announced plans to support migration-background families. Woori Financial Group is providing about 3.6 billion KRW nationwide to multicultural families. Their support projects include scholarships through the Woori Multicultural Scholarship Foundation, language and cultural experiences, and cultural projects such as children's choirs, as well as incorporating youth career and vocational education needs into their support programs. They also established a new project to support undocumented migrant children and children of mid-term immigrants who fall into policy blind spots like refugees.

Woori Financial Group plans to provide after-school classes, psychological and emotional counseling, and other support to an estimated 20,000 undocumented migrant children. The Gyeonggi Chamber of Commerce Federation will support Korean language education classes and equipment replacement for 11 foreigner welfare centers located in Gyeonggi Province, targeting foreign workers and their families.

Chairman Choi introduced the activities of ERT and the significance of new entrepreneurship, expressing his agreement on the necessity of supporting migration-background families.

Chairman Lim said, "Through the Woori Multicultural Scholarship Foundation, we are promoting new projects to support not only multicultural families but also refugees, undocumented foreigners, and children of mid-term immigrants who are in welfare blind spots. We will continue to actively support to provide practical help to migration-background families."

ERT is a corporate council launched by KCCI in 2022, with about 1,560 companies participating. It operates based on 'new entrepreneurship,' which aims to solve social problems and lead social development through technology and culture. The Together Sharing Project is ERT’s flagship practical initiative.

Previously, at the first Sharing Project event held in March last year, Chung Eui-sun, chairman of Hyundai Motor Company, participated. In April, SK, Shinhan Bank, and Ediya Coffee took part, and in June, Lotte Group and Hana Financial Group joined, each presenting various support programs to solve social issues. In May, Koo Kwang-mo, chairman of LG Group, and Park Jung-won, chairman of Doosan, visited the Seodaemun Comprehensive Welfare Center to announce expansions of family rest centers for pediatric cancer patients and medical and caregiving expense support for caregiving families.