Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Multicultural families see rising incomes, reduced educational barriers
Lee Jae-woong, director of the multicultural family division of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, speaks during a briefing at the government complex in Seoul, Thursday. Newsis
By Jung Min-ho
College enrollment rate for youth from multinational families hits record high
A new report highlights overall improvements in the quality of life for multicultural families in Korea, noting a rise in higher education enrollment among children from diverse backgrounds and a decline in reported experiences of discrimination.
According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family’s 2024 national survey, released on Thursday, the college enrollment rate among multicultural youth climbed to a record 61.9 percent last year, up sharply from 40.5 percent in 2021.
Meanwhile, the gap in higher education enrollment between multicultural and non-multicultural students has narrowed significantly — from 31 percentage points to 13 — signaling that multicultural families are experiencing fewer barriers to academic progress.
These gains suggest a significant step toward greater social integration and equality for multicultural families in Korea. This progress, particularly in education, signals a more inclusive future for the nation's increasingly diverse population.
Multicultural households also report substantial financial improvement. Nearly 66 percent of families had incomes of more than 3 million won ($2,200) per month, up from 50.8 percent three years ago. Just over 10 percent of multicultural households reported a monthly income of over 6 million won, a major increase from 5.5 percent in 2021.
The families surveyed were also much more likely to own their own housing (56.2 percent), while reliance on rent decreased.
The employment rate among those with multicultural backgrounds also rose to 62.7 percent from 60.8 percent.
Policymakers attribute this improvement to expanded government support. The generation born in the early 2000s have benefited from educational and other welfare programs established under the 2008 Multicultural Families Support Act.
A notable 71.6 percent of multicultural children now aspire to attend a four-year university or higher ― 11 percentage points above what was reported in 2021 ― suggesting rising academic ambitions and accessibility.
Despite these advances, challenges remain. Thirty-nine percent of employed multicultural family members have jobs in physical labor, even as overall participation in the workforce grows, indicating a lingering barriers to higher-paying jobs.
Discrimination continues to be a problem, with 13 percent reporting some form of discrimination in the past year, a small decrease from 16.3 percent in 2021.
Discrimination was most commonly reported in the workplace (74.6 percent), followed by on the street or in the neighborhood (53.5 percent), at schools or childcare facilities (34 percent), on public transportation (30.5 percent), at public institutions (27.5 percent) and among family or relatives (24 percent), with respondents able to choose multiple answers.
When facing discrimination, 80.7 percent said they just “endure” rather than take action or seek help.
The 2024 research covered 16,014 households countrywide, including marriage immigrants both with and without Korean citizenship (72.8 percent), other naturalized citizens (16.5 percent) and households with children born to multicultural families.
“We need a shift in perception so that multicultural families are seen not as those in need of support but as people with diverse strengths and potential who contribute to our society,” said Choi Seong-ji, the ministry’s director-general for the youth and family policy department. “While we will maintain support for multicultural families’ basic adaptation to life in Korea and the healthy growth of their children, we will also work to create an environment where multicultural children and youth can freely pursue their dreams without facing social gaps or discrimination.”