Forum launched to raise awareness of foreign nationals
외국인 이주민에 대한 인식을 높이는 포럼 개최  
  
 
 
 
The Asia Management Institute for Strategy's North-east Asia Forum yesterday celebrated the opening of a new convention to raise awareness for foreign nationals, who are becoming an increasing social presence in Korea.

The creation of the Multi-Cultural Community Forum comes at a crucial time, organizers said, amid calls for Korea to come to terms with its transformation into a multi-cultural society, whether its people are ready or not.

"To achieve social stability and peace, we have to iron out the conflict and enmity between its constituent members, acknowledge the difference between each other and respect the value of diversity," said Lee Kyo-jung, chief of the multi-cultural forum's steering committee.

The forum's key mission would thus be to "push ahead with the task of making Korean society a plural culture with reflection on ourselves and an open mind," Lee added.

As forum leaders point out, Korea has become home to more than a million residents with a wide variety of cultural backgrounds. Some are migrant workers or migrant married women, and more foreign nationals are choosing Korea as their home.

Despite the growing foreign presence, the nation has been stuck with the stigma of being far from accommodating, critics say.

In particular, migrant workers and foreign women married to Koreans reportedly suffer from mistreatment, raising questions and doubts about whether the nation respects their human rights.

The rising number of international marriages has brought more mixed-race children, many of whom suffer educational and other social discrimination. A large number of these children are sent back to their mother's homelands, but have trouble adjusting there as well.

The Multi-Cultural Community Forum seeks to improve residential conditions for foreign nationals here, organizers said, by raising awareness about the contribution migrant workers make to the local economy and introducing their different cultures.

The forum will also work to improve working conditions for immigrants, and to break down language barriers by offering more education opportunities.

"Considering that multiculturalism has come to us as a reality, it is time to take a more generous stance with wide-open minds and to embrace foreign residents as members of our society," Song Il, chairman of co-organizer Asia Management Institute for Strategy said.

Pastor Kim Jin-hong of Doorae Community, another co-organizer, pointed out that now is a time where no country can survive alone.

"The foreigners who live in Korea exceed one million in number. Our society has changed to a society of multi-culture and multi-race. But our consciousness does not appear to be adapting accordingly," Kim said.

Asia Management Institute for Strategy was established in 2006 as a private think tank formed of some 300 corporate and academic leaders to offer consulting on the nation's economic policies.

The institute issues a monthly journal called the "North-east Asia Forum" focused on pending regional issues.

(jemmie@heraldm.com)  2008 11. 06