Lived in Vietnam for 13 Years, Arrived in Korea 3 Years Ago
Registered as a Resident Last February... Became a Yeongam County Citizen
A teenager from a multicultural family, who has regained her rights as a Korean citizen after 12 years of hardship, sent a letter of gratitude to Yeongam County at the end of last month.
Kim Nayoung (15, female, pseudonym) wrote her letter in careful Vietnamese on lined notebook paper. She lived in Vietnam for 13 years before arriving in Korea three years ago, and became a resident of Yeongam County this February after registering her move.
Kim explained that the reason for writing the letter was "because I wanted to thank the case manager from the county office who visited me several times and helped me with so many things."
Born to a Korean father and a Vietnamese mother, Kim was sent to her maternal family in Vietnam around the age of three after her parents divorced. Although her mother wished for her to grow up and be educated in Korea, Kim returned to Korea in 2022 but was left in a vulnerable situation?unable to receive even compulsory education?due to her father's health issues and her mother's financial difficulties.
In her letter, Kim described that time: "I did not go outside, and I did not attend school. I was afraid to go out because I could not speak Korean, and my family could not afford for me to attend school."
Upon learning of her circumstances, Yeongam County registered Kim as a recipient of integrated case management and sent a case manager to her home to assess her needs. Based on Kim's requests, the county provided emergency living expenses, facilitated her entry into middle school, and connected her with housing support, working to ensure her basic social rights as a Korean citizen.
Kim described the changes after Yeongam County's intervention: "Now I can go to school, go out, buy cosmetics, and meet friends. After moving to Yeongam County, I was able to attend school, have a home, and receive living expenses, so I think my family can continue living here."
Throughout her letter, Kim repeatedly expressed her gratitude, writing "Thank you" and "Thank you for helping me." At the end of her letter, she expressed her hope that other children could also benefit from the welfare she received.
Kim said, "I hope there will be many programs like this in the future so that other young children will have the opportunity to go to school and live in a safe and loving environment."
Yeongam County's integrated case management has restored the rights of a teenager in crisis, opening a path toward dreams and hope.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
