Support for social adaptation, etc. 
Enhancement of understanding regarding cultural diversity
- The state and local governments must endeavor to take measures such as for the education, publicity, and correction of unreasonable institutions, etc. to ensure that Koreans and foreign residents in Korea understand and respect each other's history, culture, and institutions (Article 18 of the “Framework Act on Treatment of Foreigners Residing in the Republic of Korea”).
Support for social adaptation
- Foreign nationals residing in Korea are entitled to receive education, information, and counseling services with respect to the basic common knowledge necessary for living in the Republic of Korea (Article 11 of the “Framework Act on Treatment of Foreigners Residing in the Republic of Korea”).
- Social adaptation after acquiring Korean citizenship
· A foreign national residing in Korea who acquires Korean citizenship is entitled to receive the following benefits for 3 years from the date of acquisition of nationality (Article 12, paragraphs 1 and 3, and Article 15 of the “Framework Act on Treatment of Foreigners Residing in the Republic of Korea”):
√ Korean language education for immigrants by marriage
√ Education on the institutions and culture of the Republic of Korea
√ Childcare and educational support for the children of immigrants by marriage
√ Medical support
√ Medical checkups
※ Foreign nationals in Korea raising children born by a de facto marital relationship with Korean nationals and their children are also entitled to receive the above benefits (Article 12, paragraph 2 of the “Framework Act on Treatment of Foreigners Residing in the Republic of Korea”).
- Social integration program
· The program consists of Korean language courses, Korean social understanding courses, etc. to help immigrants to systematically acquire necessary information in their lives in Korea. Those who complete this program at designated agencies will benefit from the exemption of written and oral tests in the process of acquisition of nationality. Please refer to the immigration & Social Integration Network (http://www.socinet.go.kr) for further details.
- Support for information and communications products
· The national institution and local government may provide intelligence information products to the marriage immigrant with or without charges (Article 49, Paragraph 3 of the “Framework Act on Intelligent Information,” and Article 45, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 3 of the “Enforcement Decree of the Framework Act on Intelligent Information”).
- Civil services and consultation for foreign nationals
· Foreign nationals in Korea and foreign nationals residing in the Republic of Korea are entitled to provision of information and consultation in foreign languages by an integrated information center via telephone or electronic communications networks (Article 20, paragraph 2 of the “Framework Act on Treatment of Foreigners Residing in the Republic of Korea” and Article 16 of the “Enforcement Decree of the Framework Act on Treatment of Foreigners Residing in the Republic of Korea”).
※ The Immigration Contact Center provides information, inquiry consultation, and an electronic inquiry desk via the main number (☎ 1345) for telephone consultations related to foreign nationals and the web portal for comprehensive support for foreign nationals (http://www.hikorea.go.kr).
Information provision
Provision of information to support multicultural families
- Members of multicultural families are entitled to receive basic information necessary for living in the Republic of Korea (including information related to learning and guidance for children and juveniles), living guide books, and other information booklets which contain information on policies related to multicultural families support, successful settlement cases of immigrants, agencies such as child care centers, introduction to Korean culture, etc. (Article 6, paragraph 1 of the “Multicultural Families Support Act” and Article 11, paragraph 1 of the “Enforcement Decree of the Multicultural Families Support Act”).
※ Various guidebooks for living in Korea for immigrants by marriage can be downloaded on the web portal for multicultural families, the Danuri homepage (http://www.liveinkorea.kr).
Educational support
Korean language education
- Immigrants by marriage, etc. are entitled to receive Korean language education, etc. to improve their language skills (Article 6, paragraph 1 of the “Multicultural Families Support Act”).
- Members of multicultural families are entitled to receive education in various ways, such as through visiting education and distance education, to ensure that all immigrants by marriage, etc. and their spouses and family members have access to educational services regardless of their place of residence and home environment, etc. (Article 6, paragraph 3 of the “Multicultural Families Support Act”).
- Learning the Korean language is essential to lead a better life in Korea and to better understand Korean culture. Many agencies offer free courses for foreign nationals to learn the language, and gradually more Korean language education programs are being provided online, allowing foreign nationals to learn at home during the hours that they want [Minwon24 (http://www.minwon.go.kr)].
· Online education
√ Nuri-Sejonghakdang provides Korean language education videos and learning materials
√ Cyber University of Korea learning campaign
√ Overseas Koreans Foundation provides education on Korean language and culture
√ National Institute for International Education provides information on Korean websites such as KBS, Pai Chai University, and Sogang University
√ EBS Durian Korean Learning Center
√ National Library for Children and Young Adults, Multicultural Storytelling
· Offline education
√ The HiKorea website offers a list of educational institutions located in each region that provide offline Korean language education.
Other education
- Family education (refer to the “2023 Guide to Family Programs (Ⅰ),”<January 2023>, p. 157, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family)
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Category
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Contents
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Summary
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∙ Strengthening family relationships based on trust and love through communication ∙ Promoting understanding of proper parenting ∙ Promoting communication and fostering multi-cultural identity by using bilingual languages in the family
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Target
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∙ Multi-cultural families, etc. (See Definition of Center Members)
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Details
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Common required courses (more than 14 hours)
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Optional courses (examples, more than 26 hours)
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∙ Program to promote families to use bilingual languages (10 hours a year/20 families) ※ Bilingual coach-posted centers: 160 hours or more ∙ Information on school admission and entrance exam for school-age children of multi-cultural families (for parents, more than 4 hours a year) ※ Once each in first and second half of the year
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∙ Family communication program ∙ Family relations improvement program ∙ Understanding of marriage and family, and meaning and roles of family ∙ Father education ∙Parent-child relations and self-esteem improvement program ∙ Child education program ∙ Parental role education, and child health guidance, and child life guidance ∙ Child life guidance ∙ Grandchild /child raising and educating program for marriage immigrants residing in the Republic of Korea ∙ Child raising and educating program for multi-cultural single parent ∙ Social safety net project for embracing children from multi-cultural families∙
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- For more information on gender equality and human rights education, social integration education, counseling education, etc., please refer to “2023 Guide to Family Programs (Ⅰ),” pp159-168.
Translation and interpretation program for immigrants by marriage
Major programs (refer to the “Guide to 2023 Family Programs (Ⅱ),” <2023.1>, p231-235, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family)
- Provision of translation and interpretation services to immigrants by marriage with weak Korean language skills to support their communication regarding family and social life
- Translation and interpretation services are provided in 1-4 languages in each center for languages, including Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipino (English, Tagalog), Mongolian, Thai, Russian, Indonesian, Cambodian, Japanese, and Nepali.
- Translation and interpretation services at Multicultural Family Support Centers
· Counseling for the early stage of residing in Korea for family life, cultural differences between countries, etc.
· Support for immigrants by marriage to settle in Korea; provision of information and programs related to nationality and stay
· Translation and interpretationsupport on the provision of living information andcounseling for pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare
· Translation and interpretation supportfor educational courses
· Interpretation services for family communications
· Interpretation services for use of administrative and judicial agencies (except notarization)
· Interpretation services for use of public institutions such as hospitals, public health centers, police stations, and schools (except notarization)
· Translation and interpretation services on emergency support for crises
· Other translation and interpretation services commissioned by individuals or organizations that directly or indirectly support multicultural families
- All services are provided for free as a rule.
Information on counseling and interpretation services for foreign nationals
- Korean Institute for Healthy Family ☎ 1577-9337
- Korea Support Center for Foreign Workers ☎ 1644-0644
- Emergency Support Center for Migrant Women ☎ 1577-1366
Basic living security system
Eligible recipients
- A registered foreign national who falls under any of the following circumstances and who is qualified to receive benefits is an eligible recipient (Article 5-2 of the “National Basic Living Security Act” and Article 4 of the “Enforcement Decree of the National Basic Living Security Act”).
· A person married to a national of the Republic of Korea who falls under any of the following categories:
√ Where the person in question or the person's spouse, who is a national of the Republic of Korea, is pregnant
√ Where the person raises a minor child who is a national of the Republic of Korea (including a person in a stepfather-stepchild relationship, stepmother-stepchild relationship, or adoptive relationship)
√ Where the person shares livelihood or dwelling with his/her spouse's lineal ascendant or descendant who is a national of the Republic of Korea
· A person who has been divorced from or bereaved of his/her spouse, who is a national of the Republic of Korea, and either raises a minor child who is a national of the Republic of Korea or is pregnant with a child of the deceased spouse
How to apply
- Application can be made at the local eup or myeon district office or community service center
- Documents to submit: Application for provision (modification) of social welfare services and benefits, declaration of income and property, consent to provision of financial information, etc.
Emergency support programs
Emergency support programs
- Among foreign nationals staying in Korea who suffer from fire, crime, or natural disasters not attributable to themselves, those corresponding to eligible recipients of emergency support may receive urgent livelihood support, medical support, housing support, support for their use of social welfare facilities, educational support, fuel cost support for the winter season, support for costs arising from childbirth, funerals, fuel, etc.
Eligible recipients
- A person who falls under any of the following categories may become the recipients of emergency support (Article 5-2 of the “Emergency Aid and Support Act” and Article 1-2 of the “Enforcement Decree of the Emergency Aid and Support Act”).
· A person who is married to a national of the Republic of Korea
· Among those who have divorced their spouse who is a national of the Republic of Korea or whose spouse has passed away, any person who raises a lineal ascendant or descendant who is a national of the Republic of Korea
· A person recognized as a refugee under Article 2, subparagraph 2 of the “Refugee Act”
· A person sustaining damages from fire, crime, or natural disasters not attributable to him/herself
· Any other person who is recognized to be in need of emergency aid or support by the Minister of Health and Welfare
How to apply
- Applications can be made through the local si, gun, or gu district governments or the 129 Health and Welfare Call Center.