By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo
Shin Kwang-yul, chairman of the International Conference on Foreigners Welfare (ICFW), invited Asian ambassadors to lunch on May 13 to share stories in celebration of Korea’s May Family Month.
While meeting with Asian ambassadors, ICFW Chairman Shin asked, “What kind of detailed education is needed for foreigners, foreign workers, students, and immigrants to develop their lives in Korea and how can they get close to Koreans; show good manners to them, and receive good attention and respect from them as brothers and sisters?”
In response to the question, Thai Ambassador to Korea Tanee Sangrat said, “High-level Korean language education and high-level manners education are needed.”
On the way for foreign workers, especially foreigners who have been employed by companies, to be loved by their superiors and co-workers in Korea and to live a non-discriminatory work life together, Cambodian ambassador to Korea Chring Botumrangsay suggested, “First, Korean employers, companies, and Korean society should receive pre-education so that foreign workers do not have such thoughts. They came to Korea to work, not as slaves.”
Meanwhile, Laotian Ambassador to Korea Songkane Luangmuninthone gives this advice, “Korea needs manpower and as it develops economically, it is true that it needs a lot of foreign manpower. However, the immigration process for foreigners to come to Korea is too difficult. Therefore, it would be very grateful if the Korean government makes it very easy for foreign workers to go through the immigration process easily.”
Noting that it was a meaningful lunch for the May Family Month, Chairman Shin said, “We will definitely plan and implement places and programs where foreigners can study.”
Chairman Shin has been a panelist (broadcast) on Korea's multicultural society development policy for three years through KBS, and has also given lectures to students and foreigners of some 170 universities across the country for over 10 years on the development of Korea's multicultural society and how to learn Korean language easily."
