KCTV helps fund family reunions for non-Koreans who moved here for marriage. Here’s Mike Balfour with the story of one of these families.
Report
After the one hour domestic flight from Jeju to Gimpo, a five hour international flight from Incheon to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and then many hours on a bus, this family is nearing a rural village in the Southeast Asian country.
Ms. Ung Wen Tivett is excited because she and her family are heading for her hometown.
Interview Ung Wen Tivett / Immigrant from Vietnam I’ll call you when we arrive. Please come and take our bags and boxes on your motorcycle. < 응웬 티 배 뜨 / 베트남 다문화가정 > 가까이 갔을 때 전화하면 마중나오세요. 오토바이로 나와서 짐 싣고 가주세요.
After 10 hours of travel from Jeju, they finally arrive at her parents’ house.
Ung Wen Tivett’s parents are there to welcome the family when the bus reaches the village.
Her husband and daughter also have smiley faces. It’s their first visit to his wife’s and her mom’s hometown.
[slug] Relatives gather for feast
Families and relatives gather for a feast.
The table is full of festival foods. The mother-in-law and the son-in-law enjoy the food and express their warmth and affection for each other.
Interview Ung Wen Vang Zung, Ung Wen Ti Chung / Parents We couldn’t sleep well last night because we were too excited. I missed my daughter and son-in-law so much. < 응웬 방 쭝 응웬 티 쯩 / 친정 부모 > 딸이랑 사위가 온다고 하니까 설레서 잠도 못 잤어요. 너무 많이 보고 싶었어요.
The family will stay in Vietnam for two weeks. During that time they can strengthen their family ties and have times to remember.
Interview Gang Gyeong-ho / Ung Wen Tivett’s husband It’s been a long wait to meet my parents-in-law. I will spend time with them and try to please them. < 강경호 / 다문화가정 남편 > 오랜만에 왔으니까 장인 장모님께 사위로서 점수 많이 따고 가야겠죠. 점수 많이 따려고 노력 많이 하겠어요.
[slug] KCTV, provincial government fund family reunions
KCTV and the province selected four international families to take part in the family reunion program that pays for the travel to the wives’ home country.
[Reporter] Mike Balfour
The program presents an unforgettable gift to the selected families.
