[The Editors' Verdict] The New K Keyword: 'Multiculturalism'

An elementary school in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, has about 400 multicultural students out of 417 total students, accounting for 97.4%. Two other elementary schools in Ansan also have multicultural student ratios exceeding 80%. There are 26 elementary schools and 5 middle schools in Ansan where multicultural students make up more than 30% of the total student body. Nationwide, there are 350 such elementary, middle, and high schools. This number increased by 100 schools over five years from 250 in 2018. The number of foreign residents in South Korea is 2,459,542. Among them, 710,000 live in Gyeonggi Province, and 95,000 (13% of the population) reside in Ansan, which has a population of 720,000. The nationalities are diverse, including China, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, and Russia. Since the 1980s, migrant workers have been entering Ansan, centered around the Banwol Industrial Complex. Due to socioeconomic and geographical advantages such as abundant jobs in Banwol Industrial Complex and affordable housing, residential areas formed around Wongok-dong, creating a concentrated migrant community. As the number of foreigners increased, the number of multicultural households formed through naturalization and marriage also surpassed one million (1.09 million in 2020).

Just as foreign workers have now settled in Korea, children from multicultural families are becoming members of society. There is no longer a need to view schools with many multicultural families or children from multicultural families as peculiar or problematic. However, parents and students who are unfamiliar and unskilled in Korean language and culture face communication difficulties and challenges in academic guidance. This is a hidden challenge in the education field. There are cases where people visit Dr. Oh Eun-young, a psychiatrist and “national mentor.” In a recent special lecture at the ‘2024 Korea Multicultural Festa,’ Dr. Oh said, “Children from multicultural families who come with their parents because they ‘speak slowly’ have difficulty making friends with peers, show lower academic achievement, and often drop out of school or find it hard to secure stable jobs.” She added, “We need to strengthen Korean language education by subdividing according to the nationality of marriage immigrant women to provide practical help.” Through this, children can learn about their mother’s culture and history, feel pride in their roots, and prevent identity confusion and maintain self-esteem during their growth process.

Professor Kim Nan-do’s team at Seoul National University presented ‘Gradation K’ as a trend for next year in ‘Trend Korea 2025,’ meaning Korea’s leap into a multicultural nation. It encompasses two trends: ‘the global spread of K-content’ and ‘Korea moving toward a multicultural society.’ The former needs no further explanation, leaving the latter. Professor Kim said, “A country with more than 5% of its population being multiethnic is a multiethnic nation, and Korea is currently a multiethnic nation.” He added, “Hyundai Motor’s Chief Creative Officer (CCO) and Chief Development Officer (CDO) are both foreigners. To attract people who can raise Korea’s level, an open and inclusive concept is necessary.”

However, according to a 2022 Human Rights Commission survey, 7 out of 10 citizens said they accept migrants as members of society and would be fine with them as neighbors. On the other hand, 1 in 2 thought that our society discriminates against migrants. Society is a gathering of many people, but the difference between ‘me’ and ‘others’ remains. To break free from the framework of ‘single ethnicity’ and ‘single ethnic nation’ and to melt race, language, and culture into a melting pot to nurture multiculturalism as a new K-asset, it must start by narrowing the gap between ‘me’ and ‘us.’