Gyeonggi Province United Through Multicultural Festivals
(Published April 12, 2012)

Gyeonggi Province will provide subsidies of KRW 100 million for multicultural festivals and gatherings this year.

◇ Gyeonggi Province will provide subsidies worth a total of KRW 100 million this year for ten multicultural traditional festivals and twenty-nine multicultural gatherings in order to ease the homesickness felt by foreign nationals living in the province and to help deepen Korean citizens’ understanding of multicultural societies and provide them with diverse cultural experiences. ⓒ G-News Plus

Gyeonggi Province will provide subsidies worth KRW 100 million for ten multicultural traditional festivals and twenty-nine multicultural gatherings, including the Myanmar Water Festival held in Bucheon City and the Sri Lankan New Year Festival in Ansan City.

On April 12, the provincial government reported its decision to address the homesickness of foreign nationals living in the province and to help deepen Korean citizens’ understanding of multicultural societies and provide them with a diverse range of cultural experiences.

After completing the procedure for selecting eligible candidates for assistance in February, Gyeonggi Province decided to support ten foreign traditional cultural events and 29 autonomous gatherings based on a final review. Autonomous gatherings of foreign nationals are generally organized by female immigrants by marriage and foreign workers.

Among the traditional cultural events of each nation, the province will provide financial assistance for ten festivals, including: the Myanmar Water Festival to be held in Bucheon City on April 15; the Sri Lankan New Year Festival to be held in Ansan City on April 22; the Nadam Mongolian Wrestling Competition to be held in July; and seven African cultural introductions to be held in September.

Among the various autonomous gatherings, the province will assist groups dedicated to learning traditional Korean dance and performances at welfare facilities free of charge, as well as gatherings of multicultural female immigrants by marriage.

A provincial official said, “We intend to provide opportunities for our citizens to enjoy diverse cultural experiences and deepen their understanding of different cultures through our support of multicultural festivals and autonomous gatherings of foreign nationals.”

ⓒ G-News Plus News / Im Se-jeen / sejeenee@kg21.net

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201204121432053974C049&s_code=C049