By Kim Rahn
A foreign internship program run by Seoul City is becoming an important element in setting polices for expatriates and migrant workers. Interns are making suggestions from the perspective of the users.
Ma Qianqian, a Chinese student studying at Sejong University, thinks public centers for migrant workers in the capital need to provide more programs on Korean culture.
Ma is one of 43 foreign students who has worked for Seoul Metropolitan Government as an intern for the last five weeks.
The students from 21 countries have helped with the city’s foreigner-related works. They were placed at the city government and affiliated organizations, such as Seoul Global Center, Seoul Namsan Gugakdang, the city government’s marketing and tourism departments and district global villages.
On completing the internship, the students made suggestions on Seoul’s policy for expats. Ma, who worked at Seongdong Migrant Workers’ Center said, “The center currently offers Korean language and computer classes to foreign employees. But I think it would be better if it provides programs through which they can learn about Korean culture, like Korean cooking classes or field trips.”
The 23-year-old hotel management major said she helped center workers make teaching material for language and computer classes and interpreted for Chinese workers who came for free health checkups at the center on Sundays.
“I’ve had a valuable opportunity to experience a different aspect of life in Korea while working there,” Ma said, adding she would like to participate in the internship once more if possible.
The program began in 2008 and is popular among foreign students. This time 216 people applied for the 43 posts.
“This was the sixth internship program and the competition is getting fiercer, as information on the program is spread by those who already took part,” city official Shin Dong-hoon said.
Interns tell of the inconveniences foreigners face here, and their proposals are reflected in the city government’s policy, Shin said. “In previous internships, some pointed out that signboards, information announcements on subways and city maps for foreigners, which we thought were expat-friendly, were actually not. We amended them following their suggestions.”
The students received certificates on completion of their internships at the city government building, Friday.