Creating a Gyeonggi Province That is Livable for Foreigners

Going forward, foreign workers and international students living in Gyeonggi Province will be able to receive medical care at hospitals where English-proficient nurses are on standby 24 hours a day and receive free Korean language education at universities.

On the 22nd, Gyeonggi Province announced that it is preparing comprehensive support measures to improve living conditions in healthcare, education, housing, and other areas so that foreign workers and international students residing in the province do not experience inconvenience in their daily lives.

According to the province's support plan, it will designate 3 dedicated foreign language nurses at each of two hospitals—Ajou University Hospital in Suwon and St. Mary's Hospital in Uijeongbu—to be on standby 24 hours to assist with patient guidance and interpretation services for foreign patients.

To this end, the province is consulting with these hospitals regarding securing and compensating English-proficient nurses, with plans to expand designated hospitals with dedicated foreign language nurses on a gradual basis.

Additionally, to help foreigners who face language communication difficulties, the province plans to open Korean language courses at two universities within the province so that foreigners can learn Korean free of charge.

The province will also designate government employees proficient in foreign languages as supporters in each city and county, and will operate a "host family program" to help newly relocated foreigners and residents develop good relationships through community matching.

Furthermore, the province plans to establish a comprehensive support center for foreigners near Suwon Station, where the largest concentration of foreigners in the province gathers, to handle employment referrals for foreigners and their spouses as well as housing purchase consultations.

The province will also establish an International Goodwill Advisory Council composed of officials from foreign-related organizations and institutions in the province to develop policies and measures to support foreigners, while also creating and distributing comprehensive living guides.

A provincial official stated, "We recognize that the approximately 154,000 foreign residents living in Gyeonggi Province are our residents, and we are committed to ensuring that they experience no inconvenience in their daily lives and business activities in Gyeonggi Province."