KCTV has been organizing home visits for multicultural families since 2011. The program positively affects the multicultural community and adds vitality to their lives.

Calls for expansion of the program are growing.

Mike Balfour reports.

Ms. Pham Thi Thuong moved to the island for marriage, leaving her son in her homeland, Vietnam.

Nostalgia and longing for her child makes for a tough life here.

Another Jeju resident from Vietnam, Ms. (김솔비) Kim Sol-bi, hopes her children can overcome the prejudice against multicultural families and become decent workers with links to both Vietnam and Korea.

INTERVIEW
Kim Jae-du / Husband of Jeju resident from Vietnam, Kim Sol-bi
I hope my children learn to speak both Korean and Vietnamese fluently and later work for the two countries.
<인터뷰: 김재두 김솔비씨 남편>
"한국에서 잘 살면 되지만 베트남어를 배워서 베트남과 한국을 서로 오고가고 하면서 잘 살면 여한이 없겠습니다."

[slug] Huge financial burden for married migrants to visit home

Getting adjusted to life in a foreign country is tough for married migrants.

Homesickness adds to the difficulties they face in getting used to life in Jeju.

But many are unable to visit their homes overseas due to the high cost.

KCTV’s home visit program for multicultural families helps Jeju’s married migrants to adapt to life in Korea.

[slug] Home visit program helps married migrants adapt to life in Jeju

Notably, the family reunion program positively affects the multicultural community.

[slug] Home visit program positively affects multicultural community

And after visiting hometowns, chosen migrants adjust to life in Korea better than before.

Meanwhile, destinations of the home visit program have been limited to a couple of countries.

Calls for expansion of the program are growing.

Currently, some 4,000 married migrants live in Jeju.

Multicultural families have become a core part of contemporary Jeju society.

INTERVIEW
Kim Seok-beom / Bureau chief, KCTV News
The financial situation of the migrants’ parents looks better, but still it’s a big burden for them to visit their homes. I hope the province, broadcasting companies, and local institutions cooperate more to help married migrants visit their homes.
<인터뷰:김석범 KCTV제주방송 보도국장>
"친정 부모님들의 경제적 형편도 조금 나아진 것 같은데요 하지만 아직도 다문화가정들이 고향을 찾기에는 상당히 힘든게 현실입니다. 앞으로 제주도를 비롯해서 방송사, 유관기관들이 좀 더 협조를 해서 다문화가정들이 고향방문의 기회가 조금 더 늘었으면 하는 게 바람입니다."

The home visit program helps Jeju’s married migrants adapt to life on the island.

[Reporter] Mike Balfour
[Camera] Kim Seung-cheol
In order for multicultural families to thrive in Jeju, careful coordination of family reunion programs and funding sources are needed.

Mike Balfour, KCTV