“The Borderless Village” in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, will be developed as a special district for foreigners and migrant workers.
/ Korea Times File |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
The ``Borderless Village'' in Ansan, a city located south of Seoul, has been designated as a ``special multicultural district'' and will work on various projects to make it a town specialized and oriented for immigrant workers and foreign residents.
Wongok-dong in Ansan, is an area that is home to many foreigners. The city will spend 18.6 billion won ($146 million) by 2013 to build a multicultural center, hold international festivals and multicultural symposiums ㅡ moves aimed to make it an exemplary town with living conditions tailored to the needs of its foreign residents.
``Ansan is a city where various international cultures coexist and is even called `Little Asia'.'' Ansan Mayor Park Joo-won said. ``This project will also energize the city's economy.''
Currently, there are some 60,000 expatriates from 56 countries living in and around Wongok, mostly migrant workers at the industrial complex and 150 non-Korean companies that operate there. The city expects the special zone to create 18.4 billion won in production and 3.6 billion won in income.
The district will benefit from some exceptional applications of the Immigration Law, such as a simpler process for applying for a visa or prolonging stays.
The police station in the district will increase the number of police officers to strengthen security. The station will also have three foreign affairs officers who can communicate in foreign languages.
Ansan has made greater efforts to make living conditions better for migrant workers. For instance, it opened the first community service center for foreigners last March and issued ordinances for them as well.
``The Ansan Migrant Community Service Center was established to provide administrative services to foreigners just like we do to Koreans,'' said Kim Chang-mo of the center. Other local governments have visited the center to learn from the foreigner-friendly policy.
Under the plan, the center will work on various projects to upgrade roads and other infrastructure in the Borderless Village. ``The streets are much cleaner now and the immigrant workers in Ansan also like the betterment of the village,'' said Kim. ``The designation as multicultural special district will give a boost to those projects.''
Once the project is completed, the area is expected to be a venue appealing to foreign tourists.
The Ministry of Knowledge Economy has selected six other ``special districts'' ㅡ Goheung in South Jeolla Province for its ocean resort; Gangjin in South Jeolla Province for its Goryeo celadon; Chuja Island off Jeju Island for dried corvina; Yeonggwang in South Jeolla Province, also for dried corvina; and Boseong in South Jeolla Province for lifelong education.
meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr
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