Special Provisions for Inviting Foreign Chefs
and Year-Round Car-Free Street
Ansan City in Gyeonggi Province announced on November 19 that the Ministry of SMEs and Startups has extended the designation period of the 'Ansan Multicultural Village District' by two years, until 2027.
The 'Ansan Multicultural Village District' was first designated as a 'Regional Specialized Development District' in May 2009. Since then, through four plan revisions, it has remained the only multicultural village district in Korea for 17 years.
Entrance to the 'Multicultural Food Street' in Wongok-dong, Ansan, the only multicultural village district in Korea. It attracts over 3 million visitors annually and has established itself as a popular destination where people can experience diverse food cultures from around the world. Provided by Ansan City
With the district's designation, the city is promoting various initiatives, including infrastructure development, raising awareness to support the settlement of foreigners in Korea, support for global traditional folk festivals, and the specialization of multicultural branding.
In particular, the 'Multicultural Food Street' established in the Wongok-dong multicultural area is subject to a 'special provision of the Immigration Control Act,' which allows overseas chefs to be invited under relaxed standards based on market recommendation rights. These local chefs are permitted to stay for up to five years, making it possible to attract unique multicultural restaurants that preserve authentic local food cultures.
The Multicultural Food Street has established itself as one of the city's top attractions, drawing 3 million visitors annually.
With this extension, the city will be able to continue operating the 'car-free street' in the Multicultural Food Street area year-round. The car-free street operates daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The city plans to install symbolic sculptures and facilities unique to the Multicultural Village District, creating a distinctive space and revitalizing the local commercial area.
Lee Min-geun, Mayor of Ansan, stated, "We will continue to provide various administrative support and cooperation to vitalize the Multicultural Village District," adding, "We aim to create an environment where multicultural residents and the local community can grow together, establishing Ansan as a leading model intercultural city representing Korea."
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