Mongolian-born public servant leads multicultural change in Seoul's most affluent district
The Gangnam Global Village Center holds a calligraphy class on Sept. 26 in preparation for a Hangeul Day contest on Oct. 9. Yun Seung-ju is sixth from left in the back row. Courtesy of Gangnam Global Village Center
Gangnam’s Global Village Center bridges cultures
In a city with growing global diversity, one small office in Seoul's Gangnam District is quietly shaping the future of social integration. At the helm of the Gangnam Global Village Center (GGVC) is Yun Seung-ju, a visionary whose personal and professional journey reflects the multicultural transformation of Korean society.
Originally from Mongolia, Yun arrived in Korea over two decades ago, later becoming the first foreign public servant of Seoul Metropolitan Government in 2011. After eight years at City Hall and earning a Ph.D. in early 2024, she was appointed as director of GGVC in April the same year.
Now, she’s drawing on both her experience as a long-term resident and her academic background to reimagine the role of the center.
“I want this center to be more than a place where foreigners take language classes,” she said in an interview. “I want it to be a space where Koreans and foreigners can truly meet, connect and understand one another.”
Yun Seung-ju stands outside the entrance to Gangnam Global Village Center in southern Seoul. Courtesy of Gangnam Global Village Center
A growing need for belonging
Since its founding in 2008, the GGVC — formerly known as Yeoksam Global Village Center — has served a steadily growing foreign population. Today, roughly 80 percent of the center’s visitors are women, many of whom are international students or young professionals in their 20s and 30s.
Yun Seung-ju is third from left in the front row. Courtesy of Gangnam Global Village Center
While some, like Yun, have Korean spouses and deep roots in the country, the majority are navigating Korean society on their own — learning the language, adapting to the culture and trying to build community.
Recognizing this, Yun has launched a variety of programs that go beyond language and legal support. From job fairs to volunteer projects, cultural performances and even self-defense classes, her vision is centered on empowerment, mental well-being and mutual cultural exchange.
“Many foreigners here are on job-seeking visas, but finding employment is very difficult,” she said. “That’s why we organized a job fair in June and career-switching seminars throughout the year. We even brought participants on hotel tours to submit resumes directly. A few people have already been hired.”
These employment initiatives are part of a broader shift toward practical support services, which are not yet widely available at other Global Village Centers.
From calligraphy to choirs
The Gangnam center has also become a creative hub. In June, Yun launched Primero Voice, a multicultural choir made up of 25 members from 20 different countries. The group had its first public performance on Sept. 20 and is set to perform again on Nov. 5 at Gangnam Square.
The Primero Voice choir performs during the Fun & Culture Festa at Coex in southern Seoul, Sept. 20. Courtesy of Gangnam Global Village Center
Additional programs this fall included a Korean calligraphy class, a martial arts self-defense workshop for women and participation in Hangul Day celebrations at Gwanghwamun Square, where members competed in a live calligraphy event.
Integration, not isolation
A key goal of the GGVC is to promote two-way integration — not just helping foreign residents adapt to Korea, but also helping Koreans connect with their foreign neighbors.
The Global Chef and Human Library programs exemplify this approach. In Global Chef, foreigners introduce Korean residents to their home countries through food, cooking traditional meals from places like Peru, Nepal and Bolivia. In the Human Library, foreign residents present aspects of their cultures — language, games and social customs — to Korean adults and children alike.
“We want to break down the idea that foreigners are outsiders,” Yun said. “There are so many people from different countries living here for many reasons. We want to show that we’re all part of the same community.”
This summer, the Human Library program expanded to include both Korean and foreign children, learning side-by-side about global cultures. The response, Yun said, has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Every year, more people are coming to our programs," she said. "That tells me there’s a real desire for this kind of connection.”
Volunteers from the Gangnam Global Village Center participate in the Gangnam District government's 50th anniversary event at Coex, Sept. 26. Courtesy of Gangnam Global Village Center
Looking ahead
With more foreign nationals arriving in Korea each year, the work of community centers like GGVC is becoming increasingly important.
For Yun, the future of the center lies not just in serving foreign residents, but in bringing Koreans and foreigners together in shared spaces, breaking down barriers of language, culture and fear.
“Sometimes Koreans are hesitant to approach foreigners because they think they can’t communicate,” she said. “But many want to be friends. We just have to create the opportunities.”
Under her leadership, the GGVC is doing just that — one job fair, choir rehearsal and cooking class at a time.
Visit globalgangnam.com for more information.
Alice Hong is a freelance writer and comedian based in Seoul. Follow her at @hippohong on Instagram.