"Graduation Ceremony with Her Second Parents"

"Second Parents" at Her Side in Korea
A Story of Family Beyond Blood and Borders

Although her parents from her hometown, 8,000 kilometers away, could not attend, there were her 'second parents' at the graduation ceremony.

Daegu University Gyeongsan Campus View.

Pham Thi Tam Huyan (24), a Vietnamese international student who graduated from the Department of Interpretation and Translation at Daegu University, was accompanied by the local restaurant owner couple who had cared for her like their own daughter over the past four years.

◆ "An Unexpected Gift from a Part-Time Job"

Huyan's life in Korea began every evening at 5 p.m. at a restaurant in Jinryang-eup, Gyeongsan. She took the part-time job to cover her tuition and living expenses, but there, she received what she calls an 'unexpected gift' in life.

"At first, it was difficult because of the language barrier and having to handle everything alone. But the restaurant owners were always by my side," Huyan recalled, her eyes welling up with tears.

This restaurant is well known in the area, frequented even by Daegu University professors. During the busy evenings, Huyan greeted customers and gradually adapted to Korean society. In the process, the owner couple became not just 'employers' but 'parents' to her.

◆ "She Is Like a Daughter to Us"

President Lee Mo (53) said, "I was worried at first because of the language barrier, but her sincerity and sense of responsibility were exceptional," and added, "Her steadfastness in overcoming difficult tasks reminded me of my own daughter." His wife, who works as a daycare teacher, also prepared a cake for Huyan's birthday every year and invited her home during holidays to share meals together.

"When she was sick, I made sure she had medicine, and when she missed Vietnamese food, I found the ingredients so we could cook together. Huyan truly was a 'daughter' to me." The owner's words were filled with motherly affection.

The owner, who enjoys sports, also spent time playing badminton with Huyan, creating moments like those between a father and daughter. Whenever Huyan burst into tears after making a mistake, he would comfort her, saying, "It's okay, everyone is like that at first."

Tears at the Graduation Ceremony On graduation day, the owner's wife, who works as a daycare teacher, took a day off to attend the event. "I couldn't miss such an important moment for a girl who is like our daughter." At those words, Huyan could not hold back her tears.

A Daegu University official commented, "There are increasing cases where local communities care for international students like family," and described this as "a model of a true multicultural community."

"Now, Korea is my second home." After graduation, Huyan expressed her ambition to become a bridge connecting Korea and Vietnam by utilizing her major in interpretation and translation. "Four years ago, this place was unfamiliar, but now I have found a second home. Meeting people like the owner couple has made me truly happy."

In place of her parents from home, it was her 'other parents' who gave the loudest applause when her name was called. The love that transcended blood ties nurtured the dreams of one international student, and now that dream is about to become reality.

Through the story of this international student, we see the essence of a multicultural society. 'Family' is not defined only by blood. The genuine care and love received in a foreign land created a bond that went beyond kinship. The warmth of this small local restaurant is perhaps the most vivid example of how Korean society is maturing into a multicultural community.

President Lee Mo (53) said, "I was worried at first because of the language barrier, but his sincerity and sense of responsibility were exceptional," and added, "His steadfastness in overcoming difficult tasks reminded me of my own daughter."