[INTERVIEW] Seoul’s Seodaemun District focuses on supporting foreign residents, international students

Lee Sung-hun, the top of Seodaemun District Workplace, speaks throughout an interview with The Korea Instances at his workplace, Dec. 27, 2024. Courtesy of Seodaemun District Workplace

Seodaemun District in Seoul, a hub for worldwide college students with 9 universities inside its jurisdiction, is ramping up efforts to help overseas residents and multicultural households as a part of its neighborhood integration technique, in keeping with the top of the district workplace.

„Roughly 15,000 overseas residents dwell within the district, and round 12,000 of them are worldwide college students,“ Lee Sung-hun, the top of Seodaemun District Workplace, mentioned throughout a current interview with The Korea Instances.

„When overseas nationals, together with worldwide college students, enter Korea, they face quite a few difficult administrative processes, which frequently trigger important hardships.”

To ease this burden, the district has launched streamlined providers to assist worldwide college students and long-term overseas residents throughout the district higher navigate the often-daunting paperwork required for his or her keep.

The system simplifies the preparation of essential paperwork, making the method extra environment friendly and accessible.

As well as, the district plans to ascertain a shared workplace house the place worldwide college students can research and work, additional supporting their integration and productiveness.

The district can be making ready to launch a brand new service to help overseas residents, notably worldwide college students, in navigating Korea’s actual property market. The service is anticipated to supply important data on housing choices and information customers via the rental course of, serving to them keep away from potential disadvantages as a consequence of a lack of awareness.

„Amongst worldwide college students, many graduate college students are married and have households,“ Lee mentioned. „Their greatest problem is discovering appropriate housing, as universities typically lack adequate dormitories, and the out there lodging are usually not designed to help households.“

The service will supply tailor-made help, together with suggestions on areas and sensible suggestions when on the lookout for appropriate housing.

Contributors march in a parade showcasing conventional Korean music in the course of the Sinchon World Youth Competition, Sept. 29, 2024. Courtesy of Seodaemun District Workplace

Along with sensible help for day by day dwelling, Seodaemun District Workplace has launched a cultural initiative to foster neighborhood integration between native residents, worldwide college students and overseas guests.

This system, named the Sinchon World Youth Competition, goals to create a welcoming environment that celebrates variety throughout the district.

The inaugural occasion, held in 2023, attracted roughly 530,000 guests. Final yr’s occasion, which ran from Sept. 27 to 29, noticed a 59 % improve in participation, drawing about 760,000 guests over three days.

The competition featured parades, worldwide meals markets, cooking contests and cultural and tourism-themed cubicles, providing a vibrant showcase of world traditions.

„I hope this occasion serves as a platform for each Koreans and non-Koreans — whether or not residents, guests or college students — to attach, talk and construct friendships,“ Lee mentioned.

Guests benefit from the view of the waterfall at Cafe Pokpo, situated alongside Hongje Stream in Seodaemun District. Courtesy of Seodaemun District Workplace

He additionally highlighted that the district has a number of widespread locations that draw each residents and vacationers.

Cafe Pokpo is one rising standout attraction. Identified for its distinctive setting that gives views of a waterfall throughout the bustling metropolis, the espresso store has grow to be a worldwide hotspot, attracting 1.5 million guests so far.

Almost half of those guests are worldwide vacationers visiting from greater than 31 nations.

„In Dubai, taking images at Cafe Pokpo has grow to be a must-do exercise for these visiting Korea,“ Lee mentioned.

To boost the expertise for worldwide guests, the district has established a vacationer data heart to supply language help and help. Measures have additionally been launched to make ordering espresso and buying objects extra handy, together with a vacationer sales space providing complete details about points of interest throughout the district.

Moreover, the district workplace plans to rework a constructing adjoining to Cafe Pokpo right into a cultural heart the place guests can immerse themselves in numerous cultural applications.

„The house will function a present store on the primary ground and areas on the second ground devoted to interactive applications showcasing Korean tradition, offering guests with an immersive cultural expertise,“ Lee mentioned.

Lee Sung-hun, proper, the top of Seodaemun District Workplace, walks with residents alongside a purple clay path. Courtesy of Seodaemun District Workplace

One other widespread attraction within the district is the Ansan Crimson Clay Path, a 550-meter-long strolling path designed to supply a singular and restorative expertise for guests.

The path is supplied with foot-washing services, relaxation areas, a purple clay footbath and therapeutic massage balls, offering a soothing setting for these looking for rest.

Final June, the district expanded its choices by opening an 800-meter part of the paths in Cheonnyeon-dong. The brand new path has already attracted over 96,000 guests in simply six months since its launch, underscoring its rising recognition as a leisure spot.

Pedestrians stroll alongside Yonsei-ro within the Sinchon space, Feb. 20, 2023. Korea Instances file

Lee additionally expressed optimism concerning the Yonsei-ro space in Sinchon, Seoul’s first car-free avenue. Nevertheless, personal autos had been allowed again on the road as of Jan. 1.

„I have been working laborious to reinstate personal autos on the road since I took workplace as head of the district workplace in July 2022,“ he mentioned.

The Seoul Metropolitan Authorities had initially designated the world as a „public transportation zone“ in 2014 underneath former Mayor Park Received-soon to advertise a pedestrian-friendly setting.

Nevertheless, native shopkeepers and residents argued that the car-free coverage negatively impacted the native economic system, notably within the industrial district of Sinchon, which has struggled to recuperate because the COVID-19 pandemic. This has led to requires the coverage’s repeal.

„Permitting automobiles to go via the world will assist revitalize the industrial district round Sinchon,“ Lee mentioned.

Wanting forward, Lee expressed his dedication to realize the district’s targets within the coming yr.

„There are numerous initiatives we’ve been engaged on to enhance residents’ lives, and I hope this yr can be one the place these initiatives are accomplished and present tangible outcomes,“ he mentioned.