Busan's Suyeong-gu is expanding its "Home Country Visit Airfare Support Project" to help multicultural families settle stably in the region and strengthen their cultural connections. On July 10th, a meaningful event was held in the Suyeong-gu Office's main conference room, where air tickets for home country visits were presented to four exemplary multicultural families (14 individuals in total). The purpose of this project is to provide a valuable opportunity for marriage immigrants who have not been able to visit their hometowns for a long time to reunite with their families in their home countries, and for their children to directly experience their parents' culture and roots.

The Necessity and Importance of Supporting Multicultural Families 

Our society is rapidly transitioning into a multicultural one. According to Statistics Korea, as of 2023, the number of foreign residents and naturalized citizens in Korea exceeded 2.5 million. Marriage immigrants constitute a significant portion of this group, and the cultural and social difficulties they experience are recognized not merely as individual problems but as issues concerning our entire society. In particular, longing for their home countries and feelings of disconnection can lead to emotional instability, posing a significant obstacle to their successful settlement in Korea.

Suyeong-gu's home country visit support project is a practical aid designed to alleviate these difficulties and help multicultural families successfully integrate into the local community. Visiting one's hometown is more than just a physical journey; it strengthens family bonds and serves as an important occasion for children to establish their multicultural identity. Understanding and experiencing their parents' culture is an essential asset for children to broaden their international perspective and grow into global talents who embrace diverse cultures.

Suyeong-gu's Efforts to Expand Multicultural Family Support Projects 

In addition to this airfare support for home country visits, Suyeong-gu is implementing various policies to help multicultural families settle stably. They operate customized support programs throughout the life cycle of multicultural families, including language education, employment support, childcare and parenting counseling, and psychological counseling, to resolve the practical difficulties they face. Furthermore, Suyeong-gu is striving to improve local residents' understanding of multiculturalism through multicultural awareness campaigns and foster a community culture of mutual respect.

During the airfare delivery ceremony, Suyeong-gu Mayor Kang Sung-tae encouraged the families, stating, "I hope this home country visit becomes a precious memory that the families will cherish for a long time," and "We will spare no effort in providing diverse support to help multicultural families settle stably in the local community and improve their quality of life." This statement demonstrates Suyeong-gu's firm vision of recognizing multicultural families as valuable members of our society and believing that their happiness directly contributes to the development of the local community.

The Positive Changes a Home Country Visit Can Bring 

A home country visit has a positive psychological and emotional impact on all members of multicultural families. For marriage immigrants, it provides a healing time to relieve their longing for home and reaffirm their bonds with family members. Especially for children born or raised in Korea, it becomes a valuable educational opportunity to directly experience their parents' culture and language, deepening their understanding of their roots. This helps boost children's self-esteem and, furthermore, contributes to strengthening their capabilities as "global citizens" who embrace both Korean society and their parents' home country culture.

Ultimately, such support enhances the life satisfaction of multicultural families and encourages their more active participation in the local community. When multicultural families proudly establish themselves as a vital part of our society, our society can develop into a richer and more diverse form. Suyeong-gu's multicultural family home country visit airfare support project is expected to be a catalyst for these positive changes.