Diverse events designed to promote multi-cultural experiences and a better understanding of multiculturalism will be held in Gyeonggi Province, in honor of Together Day, which marks its 2nd anniversary in 2009.

Gyeonggi Province accommodates more than 277,900 foreign residents, which is 31.2% of the 891,000 total foreign residents in Korea. In recognition of this, ten cities in Gyeonggi Province (Ansan, Suwon, Hwaseong, Gimpo, Seongnam, Siheung, Goyang, Euijeongbu, Paju, and Pocheon) will host large-scale events to commemorate Together Day and Multi-Cultural Week (from May 20 to May 26).

Most notably, the events held in the province do not just provide support for foreign residents in Korea but also draw the participation of native Koreans. Through these events, it is hoped that many native Koreans will improve their recognition of foreign residents as their true neighbors through diverse multi-cultural experiences.

Suwon City will host the “Multi-Cultural Family Festival” at Suwon Outdoor Concert Hall 1 in Ingye-dong, Suwon, starting at 10:00 AM on May 17, 2009, and over 5,000 foreign residents are expected to participate in the festival. The Multi-Cultural Bibimbab Making event, where foreign residents and native Koreans will make 2009 servings of bibimbab, will certainly capture the attention of visitors. The festival will also feature a Korean Food Contest, a Global Cultural Experience, and the Global Cuisine Market.

Ansan City will host a ceremony to declare a Multi-Cultural City at Dalmaji Hall of the Ansan Culture and Art Center at 1:00 PM of May 17, 2009, and the Contest for Foreign Residents will take place in which 15 foreign residents’ teams will compete with Korean songs and traditional dance skills. The winners of the contest will present a multi-cultural performance for Together Day on the Borderless Street of Wongok-dong from 2:00 PM of May 24, 2009. As Ansan was designated as a Multicultural Special Zone by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy on May 1, 2009, it will host the ceremony to declare itself a Multi-Cultural Town on Together Day.

The province has provided KRW 1.5 billion in financial support to each city since 2004 in order to support the stable settlement of foreign residents in Korea and protect their rights. The Migrants Welfare Center will be newly launched in Hwaseong, following four centers founded in Namyangju, Suwon, Siheung, and Ansan. The province plans to gradually increase the number of centers to keep pace with the increase in the number of foreign residents and the changing conditions of each city and county.  

The Migrants Welfare Center, which was founded by Gyeonggi Province and the City of Hwaseong with an investment of KRW 3.288 billion (provincial support of KRW 1.5 billion), is a three-story building with one basement floor, and operates exhibition rooms, training rooms, a healthcare office, and counseling offices. The center will support foreign residents in adapting to Korean society by providing Korean language educational services, counseling services, and living support as well as by hosting cultural and sports events.