Jon Dunbar is a copy editor at The Korea Times, as well as editor of the Foreign Community page and curator of the Korea Times Archive. If you have suggestions for possible articles, or wish to contribute articles yourself, contact jdunbar@koreatimes.co.kr.
Itaewon Global Village Center hosts 3rd 'Living in Seoul Talk Series'
Jang Man-ik, a licensed immigration agent, talks about work visas during last year's Living in Seoul Talk Series, held at Yongsan District Office, Nov. 9, 2024. Courtesy of Itaewon Global Village Center
By Jon Dunbar
Itaewon Global Village Center will host the third "Living in Seoul
Talk Series" on Dec. 13 to provide basic information to foreign residents of Seoul, including health insurance coverage, tenants’ rights, visa changes and basic labor laws.
"With the consistent flow of foreigners coming to Seoul, almost half of the population of South Korea
calls this city their home. Seoul has also become the host to a growing number of citizens from different parts of the world," the organizers said in an online invitation.
"The talk aims to provide a venue for foreigners to learn the essential details of living in the city to ensure their stay is pleasant and worry-free. It will also be a good venue to meet fellow foreigners and integrate into their respective communities. All foreigners, especially those who hold E (employment) visas, are encouraged to join."
People who choose to attend can join any or all of the sessions. This includes the first session in the morning on Korea's national health insurance and other types of private insurance, by Park So-young, a licensed life insurance planner with Incar Finance Service, starting at 9:30 a.m.
This will be followed at 10:40 a.m. with a talk on real estate laws and the rights of tenants in Korea, delivered by Jayel Kim, attorney at law with law firm Tae-il.
After lunch, Jang Man-ik, a licensed immigration agent, will give a talk on how to change an E-1, E-2 or E-7 visa to an F-2 or F-5 visa.
Lawyer Lee Ji-won talks about Korean labor laws and workers' rights during last year's Living in Seoul Talk Series, held at Yongsan District Office, Nov. 9, 2024. Courtesy of Itaewon Global Village Center
The final session, starting at 3:10 p.m., is on standard labor laws with a focus on E-2 visa holders, delivered by Lee Ji-won, attorney at law with law firm Siwoo.
The Itaewon Global Village Center is a government agency committed to supporting foreign residents living in Seoul. One of its objectives is promoting the importance of knowing one's rights and giving the foreign community access to valuable information that helps them adapt and make their lives easier while living in Korea.
A poster for this year's "Living in Seoul Talk Series" event, planned for Dec. 13 at the Itaewon Global Village Center in central Seoul / Courtesy of Itaewon Global Village Center
In-person attendees will be limited but the event will be broadcast through fb.com/itaewonglobalvillage. Visit itaewongvc.com for more information and to register.
Jon Dunbar