Volunteers help foreign nationals settle in Seoul

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Wed, November 29, 2023 | 04:40

Multicultural Community

Volunteers help foreign nationals settle in Seoul

Posted : 2021-10-06 15:23

Updated : 2021-10-07 09:03

Suk-ja Lee-Fischer, third from right, poses with other officials during the opening ceremony at the Korea Center for Immigration's building at Yongsan-gu, central Seoul, Aug. 27. Courtesy of KCI

By Hwang Dong-hee

The past several weeks have been the busiest period of her life since the launch of a support group for foreign nationals in Seoul, Suk-ja Lee-Fischer, founder and CEO of the Korea Center for Immigration (KCI), said.

With staff from 26 countries, and more expected to join, the center is offering various services to those who are trying to settle in the city, including assisting with visa extensions, signing housing contracts or opening bank accounts.

"It's really difficult to settle in a country when you are not familiar with the language or the culture. Foreigners ask for help because they have no idea how to get a place through Zigbang, (a popular app for finding flats among Koreans) because they are not familiar with Korea's rental system," she told The Korea Times.

"Sadly, there are some cases where they had to pay extra commission or got tricked into paying a higher deposit. KCI's team can accompany them and help them with communication."

Members of KCI paint at the center during an art class. Courtesy of KCI

The center also provides a meeting place for foreign residents, as Lee frequently holds classes, where they can participate in different exercises such as knitting, painting or writing calligraphy.

"I open one-off classes from time to time. Last time, we knitted bags. And if the weather is nice, we meet up in small groups and go out together for a short picnic," Lee said.

Lee-Fischer, right, poses with her husband, Paul-Gerhard Fischer, after receiving the Minister of Justice's Commendation award, May 20. She was recognized for her volunteer work at the Seoul Immigration Office, for supporting the settlement and social integration of foreign national residents. Courtesy of KCI

KCI's roots date back to 2015, when Lee first organized a group of people, mostly her friends, who wanted to help residents of foreign nationality. As a nurse dispatched to Germany in 1972, Lee said that she has experienced how difficult it is to live in a foreign land first hand.

"It takes a lot of times to adapt and settle in another country, especially with language and cultural barriers. I want to help foreign residents who might feel desperate and lonely as I once did," she said.

Meanwhile, she hopes to open branches in other provinces if she feels there needs to be more support for more people around additional issues. She has already received many calls from those living in other areas.

"Korea is becoming much more diverse in terms of people from different cultures, but sometimes we hear stories of our members and their children suffering from prejudice and discrimination. I hope KCI can bring attention to these issues and play a role in changing society to appreciate and embrace diversity."

Hwang Dong-hee is a Korea Times intern.

donghee@ktimes.com