Gyeonggi province held a Festival for the foreign brides of International Marriage

On July 09, 2006 Festival for the Foreign Brides of International Marriage has opened at Hannuri Art Hall of Suwon by Gyeonggi province. This is to guide people？？’s way of looking other races residing in Korea more respectfully and to support foreign settlers to adapt themselves more easily, whereas the number of foreign settlers continues to increase every year.

Through this event, Gyeonggi expects to raise citizen’s interest in foreign women settlers and their cultures to break down the walls of discrimination and prejudice and also to plant a pride in foreign women settlers by introducing their motherland cultures to Koreans.

2006 Festival for the Foreign Brides of International Marriage was opened for foreign women settlers, family immigrants, group activists, and the provincials, having various events such as enjoying public performances, local experiences, participations, exhibitions, and valuable residential information. With many programs provided at the festival such as speech contest, folk music play, traditional plays of each country, traditional dress wearing event, quiz to know more about the Korean life, being a best friend with Asia, break the common notion against the intermarriage, and snapshot exhibitions, we were able to throw out our distorted mind against different nationalities, races or gender by understanding the difference and variety of cultures around us and overcoming discrimination and prejudice.

Prior to this festival, Gyeonggi has implemented a Street Tour Campaign starting at Suwon Station Square on July 04, Anyang Station Square on the 6th, and finishing at Ilsan Lake Park on the 8th to raise people’s interests and to stir up public atmosphere for the human rights of foreign women settlers in Korea. Image film exhibition, traditional dress-wear and food experience, quiz game for immigration, intermarriage, and multiculturalism, and photo exhibition were provided during this Street Tour Campaign.

Apart from the special events mentioned above, there are many other programs has been provided by Gyeonggi to help immigrants adapt themselves more easily in Korea, which are available at each cities of Gyeonggi, such as Suwon, Anyang, Anseoung, and Namyangju. Immigrants and foreigners can have Hanguel lessons, Korean family tradition class, cultural education, and useful legal knowledge class at Em-mouse of Suwon, Jeonjinsang Welfare Center of Anyang, General Community Welfare Center of Anseoung, and Foreign Workers Welfare Center of Namyangju.

Also in addition, the Immigrants Family Support Team is formed in Ansan Foreign Workers Welfare Center to provide stronger cooperation, better education and consultations about Korean cultures, conjugal relations, and family life.

This year Gyeonggi has submitted a revised bill to amend ‘Standard Ordinance for the Women of Gyeonggi’ to provide more support to foreign women settlers. Also the ‘Research on International Marriage Immigrants and Its Political Support Plan’ will be implemented by the end of December, spending KRW 170 million of investment.

Intermarriage cases last year totaled to 43,121 cases which is 13.6% of total marriage in Korea, 316,375 cases. 16,939 foreign brides, 25% of total intermarriage are residing in Gyeonggi as of last year.

“Thru this event, we hope that we can break down the wall of social prejudice against foreign brides and immigrants so to hasten the day of becoming open and friendly multinational community.” said the person from Gyeonggi province.