Pocheon City Holds Naturalized Citizens Empathy and Communication Meeting

"Helping Naturalized Citizens Achieve Independence and Communication"

Pocheon City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Baek Young-hyun) announced on the 11th that it held a "Naturalized Citizens Empathy and Communication Meeting" on the 10th at the Pocheon Foreign Resident Support Center, inviting about 40 naturalized citizens residing in Pocheon.

Pocheon City Hall exterior. Provided by Pocheon City

Currently, about 1,100 naturalized citizens live in Pocheon, of whom approximately 35% are marriage immigrants.

This meeting was organized to listen to the difficulties faced by naturalized citizens and to seek practical support measures to help their adaptation to the local community.

One naturalized citizen who attended the meeting said, "I am grateful to Pocheon City for organizing this meeting to support the settlement of naturalized citizens. I will continue to enjoy the rights of citizens and fulfill social responsibilities as a citizen of Pocheon."

Mayor Baek Young-hyun of Pocheon said, "We will actively convey any matters to be proposed to central government agencies and promptly review those that can be resolved at the city level."

He added, "I understand that many naturalized citizens are experiencing difficulties due to language barriers and issues related to the education of the second generation. Thanks to Pocheon being selected as a pilot area for the Education Development Special Zone this year, we will promote the establishment of a public international school to help foreign residents, including the children of naturalized citizens, settle stably in the community."

He also added, "We are considering the establishment of a 'Pocheon City Naturalized Citizens Day' so that naturalized citizens can firmly establish themselves as proud members of Pocheon."

Meanwhile, on the same day, the Pocheon Foreign Resident Support Center conducted labor law education for foreign workers. Fifteen workers from India and China attended this training, learning about the labor law changes in 2024 and major counseling cases. According to the satisfaction survey, the participants expressed high satisfaction and hope for continuous education.