○ New programs, such as Korean language and qualification exam prep courses, using various content
○ Expanded eligibility criteria for bilingual education course starting this year for multicultural and Korean families to learn with their children

Gyeonggi Province reformed its Korean education courses for marriage migrants. The reform will support marriage migrants stably settle in Korea by offering qualification exam prep courses and educational content using K-pop as well as other fun and engaging educational activities.

Gyeonggi Province reported May 15 that it had run a Korean language program last year for marriage migrants comprising beginner and special courses, such as TOPIK and advanced classes. This year’s educational reform reflected the voices of students and staff who demanded diversification of educational content with an aim to provide learning opportunities to people with intermediate or advanced Korean proficiency.

The education programs that will be available to immigrants by marriage will be divided into 3 categories with a total of 130 lectures: “Beginner” course (100 lectures); “Qualification Exam Prep” course (9 lectures); and “Easy & Fun Korean” course (21 lectures). Approximately 2,000 students can take the courses at 34 institutions including Suwon Multicultural Family Support Center from March to December according to the schedule planned by each institution.

Firstly, this year’s newly created “Easy and fun Korean” course was designed with diversification of educational content in mind. Classes such as “Learning Korean with K-drama,” “K-pop Sing-along Class,” and “Learning Korean Through Fairy Tales” were created to minimize any challenges that multicultural families may experience in the early stages of learning the Korean language.

The qualification exam prep course was created for those with intermediate or advanced Korean proficiency. The course was created to help them prepare for their own examination, but also to deepen their understanding of their own children’s education.

Separate to the newly reformed Korean language program for marriage migrants, Gyeonggi Province is also running a bilingual education program. This program is designed to give elementary school students from multicultural families an opportunity to learn their parents’ native language. As with multicultural families, children from Korean families may also enroll in this program. This program is expected to present opportunities for mutual cultural understanding, communication, and job creation (e.g. hiring marriage migrants as lecturers).

Director-General Lee Sun-neum of Gyeonggi Province’s Women and Family Bureau said, “Gyeonggi Province will provide support for multicultural families so they can settle in their local community and gain independence. We will also continuously expand and provide more services for them. We will work hard to help multicultural families become part of our society.”

Meanwhile, if you want to know more information about the education programs, please contact the Multicultural Family Support Center in your city and district.