Living in Korea

HOME > Living in Korea > Multicultural Families and Foreigner Support Services> Multicultural Families and Foreigner Support Organizations

Multicultural Families and Foreigner Support Organizations

Institutes such as the Danuri Helpline ☎1577-1366 (integrated information telephone center formulticultural families), Multicultural Family Support Centers, and Support Centers for Foreign Workersare operated using government assistance and sponsorship from private businesses. There are othersupport centers for foreigners, operated by regional or private institutes. There is also a self-governingcenter of foreign residents established in Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do, where many foreigners live, thatprovides various administrative services. In addition, many institutes (such as community centers andregional cultural centers) that provide services for Koreans also have classes and programs specificallyfor multicultural families and foreigners.

01 Danuri Helpline ☎1577-1366

The Danuri Helpline provides information on Korean life, crisis counseling, emergency aids,interpretation, and 3-party telecommunication services for multicultural families and immigrantwomen residing in Korea.
Those who need counseling services can conveniently talk in their mother tongue to the professionalimmigrant women counselors who speak 13 languages*.
- Provides counseling in Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog (Filipino), Khmer (Cambodian),Mongolian, Russian, Japanese, Thai, Lao, Uzbek, and Nepali.
When there is a need for protection or emergency counseling due to domestic violence or sexualviolence, the call center service can be accessed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Moreover,multicultural families are provided with various forms of assistance such as interpretation andtranslation, in case a trouble occurs or in need of information.
Counseling is done in cooperation with related agencies such as nationwide Multicultural FamilySupport Centers, domestic violence counseling centers, the Sexual Violence Counseling Center, theDomestic Violence Victim Protection Facility, police agencies, attorneys, Women's Group WelfareGroups, and Sunflower Centers (Crisis Intervention Centers for Women and Children) withinhospitals located nationwide.
All counseling sessions are confidential; the identity of the caller is not disclosed

(1) Description of Services

Description of Services : This is the table that includes classification and contents.
Classification	Contents
Regular	Counseling available in 13 languages Callers can be directly connected to other agencies when necessary (one-call, one-stop)
Activities related to emergency assistance services and counseling on emergency and violence	Telephone counseling provided in native languages 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for immigrant women who are experiencing domestic violence Operation of emergency refuge facilities (children included) Connection with protection facilities for women suffering from domestic violence, sexual violence, and/or prostitution Work in relation to medical, legal, prosecutor, and police services On-site counseling services in Seoul and regional cities
Provision of information on life in Korea	Provides an integrated information about life in Korea for multicultural families · immigrants Information on the stages of life
Interpretation and three-way communication services	Third-party interpretation services for immigrants and multicultural families who have difficulties communicating in the Korean language (police stations, emergency, hospitals, resident centers, educational agencies, banks) Communication assistance within families

(2) How to Use

Telephone Counseling (three-way call available)

Operation hours: Call 1577-1366 from anywhere within the country, 24 hours a day 365 days a year
Language Services: Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog (Filipino), Khmer (Cambodian), Mongolian, Russian, Japanese, Thai, Lao, Uzbek and Nepali languages

Online Counseling

Homepage : www.liveinkorea.kr
How to Use: Quick Menu → Online Counseling
Language Services: Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog (Filipino), Khmer (Cambodian), Mongolian, Russian, Japanese, Thai, Lao, Uzbek and Nepali languages

Visit Counseling & Interview Counseling

Visit counseling: Counselors from Danuri Helpline visit those who need counseling services
Interview counseling: Counseling provided at Danuri Helpline
How to use: Schedule your date with counselors to make a reservation

Emergency Shelter

Operating hours: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
How to use : Visit the center to get counseling services in Seoul, Suwon (Gyeonggi), Daejeon, Gwangju, Busan, Gumi(Gyeongbuk), and Jeonju (Jeonbuk)

Emergency Shelter : This is the table that includes Nationwide Contact Information, Representative Helpline and Regional Contact.
Nationwide Contact Information	Representative Helpline	Regional Contact
Seoul	☎1577-1366	1577-1366
Suwon, Gyeonggi		031-257-1841
Daejeon		042-488-2979
Gwangju		062-366-1366
Busan		051-508-1366
Gumi, Gyeongbuk		054-457-1366
Jeonju, Jeonbuk		063-237-1366

Six regional counseling centers and emergency shelters other than Seoul (open 24 hours 365 days) are open 365 days (including weekends and holidays). Calls that fall outside these hours are transferred to Seoul, and applicants are sent to the nearest shelter for immigrant women.

02 Multicultural Family Support Centers

Multicultural Family Support Centers are organizations that provide seminar (on family, gender equality,human rights, etc.), Korean language education, visiting education, counseling services, informationservices and translation and interpretation services for married immigrants, in addition to services tosupport the language skills development of the children of married immigrants, in order to promotebetter family relations in multicultural families and help multicultural families adapt to Korean society.As of 2020, there are 228 Multicultural Family Support Centers in Korea.

(1) Program Contents

Program Contents
Field	Type
Field	Required Programs	Elective Programs (Example)
Family	Program to promote a bilingual environment for multicultural families Information on school admission for multicultural families with school-age children	Family communication program Family relations improvement program Understanding marriage and the family Meanings and roles of family members Education for fathers Program to improve parent-child relationships and build confidence Programs for education of children Education on roles of parents and healthcare of children Education on life of children Support for Children’s development, etc.
Gender Equality, Human Rights	Education on gender equality in family Education for understanding multiculturalism Education to improve awareness of human rights Programs for parents of Korean spouses (All Together Program), etc. Response to violence and education on prevention	Program for immigrant women Visiting violence prevention education Laws and institutions applicable to multicultural families Immigrants and human rights, etc.
Social Integration	Basic education for job seekers Link to Saeil Center Cooperation for occupational training courses for married immigrant women at Saeil Center	-
Social Integration	Education for multicultural family volunteer groups Multicultural family volunteer activities	Education to help immigrants adapt to Korean society Education for consumers and education on money management Disaster and Safety Education Operation of and linkage with learning support classes Self-support communities of multicultural families Improvement of multicultural awareness Mentoring programs for marriage immigrants Support package for each stage of settlement for married immigrants, etc.
Counseling	Family counseling	Counseling for individuals Group counseling Case management Emergency support for families in crisis Linkage with external counseling organizations, etc

The specialized programs for multicultural families operated by the Multicultural Family Support Center are as follows.

The table of the specialized programs for multicultural families
Type	Services
Korean language education for special purposes	Seven courses of customized practical Korean Program, reflecting the local demand (study guide for children, preparation for employment, local cultural activities, TOPIK reading/listening/writing for immigrant children)
Visiting education services	Visiting Korean language education: Visiting education provided for marriage immigrants within the first 5 years of stay in Korea and immigrant children Visiting parenting education service: provides education and information on parenting by life cycle (pregnancy·birth·infancy/babyhood/childhood) Services for life of children: provides reading coaching, homework guidance, speech and presentation guidance, education for development of self-consciousness and emotion, strengthening of cultural competence, training for basic life habits, guidance on health and safety, career guidance, etc. for immigrant children between 3 and 12 years of age
Case management support	Customized services for psychological and emotional security, strengthening self-reliance competence, etc. for solution of various problems of multicultural families including domestic violence, divorce, etc
Interpretation·Translation Services	Interpretation and translation services to help communication in family and social life of marriage immigrants with poor Korean
Support for language development of children from multicultural families	Evaluates language development status of children from multicultural families, provides language education for children with communication problems, and trains parents with education strategy
Creation of bilingual environment	Creates an environment for children from multicultural families to communicate in tow languages from early childhood (parent coaching for dual language, parent-child interaction program, dual language utilization program, family coaching)

(2) How to Use

Support centers for multicultural families are operated by region. Call Danuri Helpline ☎1577-1366, for the number of the support center nearest you. Support centers are typically open from 09:00 to 18:00. (Refer to References in Chapter 10)

Multicultural Family Support Center
- www.liveinkorea.kr
- Download APP
  - Android phones: Google Play > Enter Danuri > Download
  - iPhone: AppStore >Enter Danuri > Download

03 Rainbow Youth Center of the Migrant Youth Foundation

The Rainbow Youth Center of the Migrant Youth Foundation is a specialized organization thatsupports youth from multicultural backgrounds (North Korean defectors, children of marriedimmigrants, and children of multicultural families) in accordance with Article 18 of the JuvenileWelfare Support Act. As a non-profit organization, the center works on settlement of migrant youthin Korea, and enhancement of their learning ability and self-reliance. (“Youth from multiculturalbackgrounds” refers to youth with different migrating experiences which more than one of whoseparent is from a country other than Korea or were born in Korea but raised in another country.)

(1) Contents of Support

Rainbow Youth Center of the Migrant Youth Foundation
Items	Contents
Educational support program for youth with multicultural backgrounds Rainbow school	Operation via 20 organizations in 17 regions as of 2021 (consignment operation) Support for Korean language education, special skills development, social and cultural experiences for youth with multicultural backgrounds Operation of full-day programs and hourly programs (after-school, weekend, and night programs) The contents of the program may differ by commissioned operation agency
Program for career development • Rainbow Job! • Catch Tomorrow	Operation via five organizations in Seoul, Gyeonggi, etc. as of 2021 Rainbow Job: immigrant youth requiring career development support Catch Tomorrow: Career education including vocational practice and basic quality education offered for immigrant youth wishing to advance into society (courses for the acquisition of vocational certificates and career education)
Introductory social program for North Korean refugee adolescents • Comparative cultural experience • First step into the future	Community settlement support through basic livelihood and cultural experience programs for Korean refugee adolescents Various kinds of educational support (sex, human rights, career, health) needed for Korean refugee adolescents to aid in the local community’s settlement
Counseling & local community-related programs Customized information ☎ 02-722-2585	Support for psychological counseling in various forms such as face-to-face counseling, contactless counseling, cybercounseling, and group counseling Support for bilingual counseling and customized counseling by considering the characteristics of youth with multicultural backgrounds Construction of local network and stable counseling environment such as visiting counseling to base areas and dispatch of case managers
Fostering of Counseling Interpreters	Fostering of counseling interpreters who help in communication between youth counselees and counselors during psychological counseling and therapy Counseling interpretation support in three languages such as Chinese, Vietnamese, and Russian (Seoul and metropolitan areas)
Indices of psychosocial adaptation of youth with multicultural backgrounds	Development and distribution of psychosocial adaptation indices by considering the cultural characteristics of youths with multicultural backgrounds (applicable: youth from Chinese, Vietnamese, and Russian language cultures)
Fostering of human resources to support youth with multicultural backgrounds	Education contents: Educational courses for workers of agency related to youth with multicultural backgrounds; educational courses to strengthen the multicultural capability of future youth leaders; and courses to strengthen the multicultural capability of youth instructors Education subjects: Workers of agency related to youth with multicultural backgrounds; youth instructors; future youth instructors Operation Method: Face-to-face or contactless education
Improvement of the youth’s multicultural sensibility Program “Dagagam”	Education contents: Core capability of multicultural sensibility such as various kinds of awareness, sympathy, communication, cooperation, anti-prejudice, anti-discrimination, and global citizenship (12th composition) Education subjects: Upper-grade elementary school students and all middle school students Operation Method: Offering of visiting education by dispatching Dagagam-specializing operation instructors

(2) How to Use

The Rainbow Youth Center of the Migrant Youth Foundation operates various programs for youths with multicultural backgrounds between the ages of 9 and 24 in cooperation with local organizations.
Program use & application
☎ 02-733-7587 ∥ Telephone inquiry or walk-in/online application
Customized information services
☎ 02-722-2585 ∥ Counseling time weekdays 09:00 ~ 18:00
Phone or online counseling ∥ Homepage-Participation Courtyard-Online counseling
Visit to the foundation
☎ 02-7826-1562 ∥ Operate every 3rd Wednesday of the month
Phone or online counseling∥ Homepage-Participation Courtyard-Visit to the foundation

04 Support Center for Foreign Workers

(1) Overview of Programs

Support Center for Foreign Workers
Division	Content
Counseling	Delays in salary payment Change (transfer) of employer Immigration and residence Industrial accidents Healthcare and welfare Fraud, assault, etc. Difficulties with daily life
Education	Korean language education ICT education Special education: law, safety and adaptation to Korean society
Events	Community events Educational events Cultural events
Healthcare	Basic healthcare services for migrant workers who have difficulties visiting small clinics due to language problems

(2) How to Use

The Center is open from 09:00 to 18:00 during weekdays (☎1644-0644), and some educational programs are operated on Sundays.

05 Counseling Center for Foreign Workers

Overview

The Counseling Center for Foreign Workers operates a support center for foreign workers with a call center as the main function that foreign workers and their employers can use to quickly resolve their difficulties.

Status

Status of counseling center for foreign workers
Name	Counseling Center for Foreign Workers (☎1577-0071)
Address	Gyeonggi-do Ansan-si Danwon-gu Gojan 2-gil 16 Emerald Building Fl. 3
Operation Hours	Open all year round (09:00-18:00) When you reserve online counseling outside of the normal hours of operation, you will receive a call back right after the start of operating hours the following day.
Languages Supported	17 languages including: Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, English, Thai, Indonesian, Sinhalese, Mongolian, Uzbek, Khmer (Cambodia), Bengali, Urdu (Pakistan), Nepalese, Burmese, Kyrgyzstani, and East Timorese
Counseling Areas	In addition to helping resolve personal problems, the center provides information on living in Korea and information on resolving workplace disputes to foreign workers and their employees.

06 Immigration Office

The Immigration Office (please refer to the appendix for details on the Immigration Office) overseesthe following administrative affairs related to a foreigner's status in Korea: immigration inspection ondomestic and foreign travelers, certificate of visa issuance, alien registration, stay permissions (extensionof stay, change of status, etc.), violation inspections, nationality changes, refugee status, etc.

07 Websites with Multi-Language Support

Since Korea has an advanced ICT network, foreign immigrants are able to obtain information on lifein Korea through a variety of websites, and can take advantage of cyber education programs such asKorean language programs and Korean culture education. Websites operated by organizations aimedat foreign residents are particularly useful, as they support multiple languages.

Websites with Multi-Language Support
Website Address		Operating Institution	Service Provided
Public Operation
Danuri (Multicultural Family Support Portal)	www.liveinkorea.kr	Korean Institute for Healthy Family	Information on life in Korea, educationinformation, center information,counseling room, reference room,multicultural news, webzine, etc.Counseling and interpretation services inmultiple languages for immigrant womenwho are victims of domestic violence,sexual violence, prostitution, etc.
HiKorea (e-Government portal for foreigners)	www.hikorea.go.kr	Ministry of Justice	Provides on-line civil affairs services,immigration, employment, job-seeking,investigation guide, amenities, counselingservices, civil affairs documents
Multicultural Ggureomi	www.kidsnfm.go.kr	National Folk Museum	Introduces cultures of different countries
East to Find, Practical Law	www.easylaw.go.kr/CSM	Ministry of Government Legislation	Provides practical law informationnecessary for living in Korea toforeigners such as marriage immigration,visa·passport, Industrial AccidentInsurance, foreign workers, driver’slicense, moving, house rentals, moneytransactions, etc. in 12 different languages
korea.net	www.korea.net	Korean Culture and Information Service	Provides Korean news and information on economy, history, culture, and tourism
Government 24	www.gov.kr	Ministry of Public Administration and Security	Online issuance of various certificates provided by the Korean Government and comprehensive information on government services for foreign workers, marriage immigrants, and international students
VisitKorea	www.visitkorea.or.kr	Korea Tourism Organization	Information on travel, festivals, restaurants, and accommodations in Korea
Durian	www.ebsd.co.kr	EBS	Provides Korean education programs to learn Korean language and culture and sEBS multicultural programs
Nuri King Sejong Institute	www.sejonghakdang.org	King Sejong Institute Foundation	Online learning programs for Korean language and culture
National Health Insurance Service	www.nhis.or.kr	National Health Insurance Service	Introduces and provides information on the health insurance system and benefits
KBS World Radio	world.kbs.co.kr	KBS	News in multi-languages, programs on current issues, culture, and entertainment, etc.
Seoul Hanultari	www.mcfamily.or.kr	Seoul-s	Provides information on multiculturalfamilies support, community, Koreanlanguage education, jobs, occupationaltraining, and public transportation
Seoul Global Center	global.seoul.go.kr	Seoul-s	Civil affairs center for foreigners in Seoul,life support for foreigners, driver’s license,and tax information consultancy
Ansan Multicultural Support Headquarters	global.iansan.net	Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do	Introduces Ansan Community ServiceCenter for Foreigners and providesinformation on multicultural familysupport programs, webzine in 8 languages,Korean language education, interpretation,counseling support, medical and legalinformation, etc.
Chungnam Dawoolim	www.dawoolim.net	Chungcheongnam-do	Provides information on living in Koreaand life in Chungcheongnam-do (centernews, guide to living in Korea, introductionof different cultures, everyday Korean)
National Pension Service	www.nps.or.kr	National Pension Service	Provides information related to nationalpension such as application and report fornational pension, how to pay insurancefees, etc
Private Operation
Migrants’ Network TV	www.mntv.net	Migrants’ Network TV MNTV	News in different languages, everyday Korean
Multicultural Family e-learning Campaign	ecamp.cuk.edu	The Cyber University of Korea	Education on Korean language, Korean culture, and the culture of the spouse

08 Mobile Applications with Multi-Language Support

Mobile Applications with Multi-Language Support
Mobile Name	Operating Institution	Contents	Service Provided
Danuri	Korean Institute for Healthy Family	Guidebook for Living in Korea, information onmulticultural family support center nationwide, andemergency contact numbers	Android, IOS
共 ZONE	Korea Immigration Service of the Ministry of Justice	Provides communication magazinepublished by the Korea Immigration Service of theMinistry of Justice	Android, IOS
East to Find, Practical Law	Ministry of Government Legislation	Provides practical law information necessary for livingin Korea to foreigners such as marriage immigration,visa/passport, Industrial Accident Insurance, foreignworkers, driver’s license, moving, house rentals, moneytransactions, etc. in 12 different languages	m.easylaw.go.kr/MOM
My Seoul	Seoul-si	Information on administration, job, Korean education,multilingual chatting, international calls, domestic calls,salary calculation, Dasan Call Center for foreigners andmulticultural families	Android, IOS
Multicultural Happiness Sketch	Busan Metropolitan City	Korea living information, Korean language educationinformation, job information, counseling information,program introduction and schedule, information onBusan's multicultural support center/global center	Android, IOS
KBS World Radio	KBS	Provides text and video clips related to Korea, including news, current affairs, entertainment, etc. in 11 languages	Android, IOS
Emergency Ready APP	Ministry of Public Administration and Security	Disaster safety information service for foreigners residing in Korea	Android, IOS

본 저작물은 '한국건강가정진흥원'에서 '2020년' 작성하여 공공누리 제4유형으로 개방한 '한국생활가이드북'을 이용하였으며, 해당 저작물은 '한국건강가정진흥원, www.kihf.or.kr' 에서 무료로 다운받으실 수 있습니다.