Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
Nonghyup supports multiracial families' hometown visits
By Park Jin-hai
Choi Won-byung
By Park Jin-hai
Nonghyup Foundation will pay for the flights and expenses for selected multiethnic families to visit the home countries of the foreign spouse.
Under the Home Country Visit Project, 629 people from 162 multiracial families, all living in rural areas, will receive round trip tickets and additional expenses including travel insurance.
“We will spare no effort to assist multiracial families settle here as responsible members of society,” said Choi Won-byung, chairman of the foundation’s board of directors.
By home country, Vietnam accounts for the most with 287 people from 77 families followed by China with 106 from 29 families; the Philippines with 89 from 29 families; and Cambodia with 60 from 15 families.
Nonghyup’ welfare unit, founded in 2004 to support farming families, started the project in 2007 and about 4,100 family members have benefited so far.
The number of beneficiaries has risen over recent years. In 2010, Korean Air joined the program, helping expand the numbers further.
The candidate families are recommended by local Nonghyup offices and undergo a screening process to be selected in April. The families can visit the spouses’ home countries at any time between June and December this year.
The numbers of beneficiaries differ by region, based on the national demographic data. In Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces, where the majority of multiracial families reside, 122 and 67 family members received the benefits, respectively.
In a separate program, the foundation will pay for visits by the parents of 17 migrant spouses to Korea. A foundation official said 34 parents of housewives from Vietnam and the Philippines will visit in October.
“We will provide them with the cost for air travel, issuance of passports and visas, as well as the cost of a visit to Seoul for three days,” said Seo Kyung-min, assistant manager of the foundation.