By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter

An African-American who lived in Seoul for about three years said Koreans are not friendly to foreigners, especially to people of color. “I enjoy Korean food and customs, but the people here are just not friendly,” he said on condition of anonymity. “Many of my African- American friends and other people of color feel the same way.”

To change such attitudes and to become a more “global” city, Seoul City and the Ministry of Justice have joined hands.

Minister of Justice Lee Kwi-nam and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon signed an MOU to promote cooperation in creating a social environment in which foreigners can live without being discriminated against.

Oh has introduced measures to aid foreigners’ lives such as establishing the Seoul Global Center, a one-stop assistance center, and building more international schools and rental apartments for international residents.

“Satisfying foreigners visiting and living in Seoul is vital to establish a global city,” Oh said.

“Providing better immigration services is essential in this global era. We will have to make a social environment where the increasing number of immigrants can live with Koreans in a harmonious way,” Minister Lee said.

Justice Minister Lee and Seoul Mayor Oh are alumni of the College of Law of Korea University, one of the nation’s top law schools, and their friendship is said to have assisted in creating the cooperation.

Alan Timblick, head of the Seoul Global Center, and other foreign chiefs of global village centers throughout the city, including Hans-Alexander Kneider of Seongbuk Multicultural Village Center, also participated in the ceremony.

As of February, about 253,000 expatriates are registered in Seoul City and 5,100 foreigners have invested in the city. The Justice Ministry suggested that Seoul City should work together with it on expatriate-related issues, in February.

The ministry will assist the city’s aim to attract more tourists by easing visa rules and simplifying the immigration process. Seoul City will cooperate on various international events hosted by the ministry and execute the ministry’s policy.

meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr