Nonghyup Bank (Chairman Kang Ho-dong) and the Korea-Vietnam Future Generations Exchange Foundation (Chairman Kim Dong-hwan) successfully concluded a three-day "Multicultural Family Settlement Support Education" program for members of Korea-Vietnam multicultural families at Nonghyup University from July 2 to 4. This education focused on providing practical support to help multicultural families settle stably in Korean society and plan a healthy future.

Customized Support for Stable Settlement of Multicultural Families 

This program was conducted for Korea-Vietnam multicultural families selected from across the country. Participants were chosen by comprehensively considering the characteristics and needs of individual households, such as duration of marriage, number of children, and completion of Korean language education. This reflects the organizers' efforts to provide practical help tailored to each family's situation, going beyond simple information provision.

The educational content consisted of three main pillars. First, understanding multicultural family support policies and the value of agriculture and rural areas helped multicultural family members understand the Korean social system and provided information specifically for families residing in agricultural and rural areas, contributing to strengthening their ties with local communities. Second, psychological counseling for parents (individual and group) focused on resolving emotional difficulties that may arise in Korean life and improving communication skills among family members. It supported the formation of healthy family relationships by discussing conflicts arising from cultural differences during the immigration process or difficulties in raising children with experts. Third, digital coding education for children aimed to help children develop future competencies in a rapidly changing modern society and contribute to bridging the education gap through expanding educational opportunities.

Multicultural Families: Important Members of Korean Society 

According to recent statistics from Statistics Korea, the number of multicultural households in Korea reached approximately 398,000 as of 2023, and this number is steadily increasing. In particular, Vietnam is one of Korea's major multicultural partner countries, with many Korea-Vietnam families bringing new vitality to Korean society. However, they often face difficulties in adapting to Korean society due to language barriers, cultural differences, and economic hardships. These difficulties are not merely individual problems but challenges that our society must address together for healthy social integration.

The stable settlement of multicultural families is also a key driver for the nation's sustainable development in an era of low birth rates and an aging society. Supporting them to demonstrate their capabilities as important members of Korean society and for their children to grow up healthy is essential for alleviating the population decline and promoting social diversity. Government and private organizations recognize this importance and operate various policies and programs for multicultural families, and this education by Nonghyup and the Korea-Vietnam Future Generations Exchange Foundation is also part of these efforts.

Need for Continuous Interest and Support 

Kim Dong-hwan, Chairman of the Korea-Vietnam Future Generations Exchange Foundation, emphasized the significance of the education, stating, "Through this education, we hope that multicultural families will easily settle in Korean society and be able to plan a healthy future with their children."

Based on the positive outcomes of this first phase of education, the Korea-Vietnam Future Generations Exchange Foundation plans to operate a second phase. Such continuous education and support will lay the groundwork for multicultural families to successfully settle in Korean society and, furthermore, play an important role in contributing to local communities and national development.

Moving forward, it is crucial to understand the difficulties faced by multicultural families and to continue providing practical and sustained interest and support so that they can take root in Korean society. Such efforts will enable multicultural families to become healthy members of Korean society and create an inclusive society where diversity is respected.