Seoul Global Center marks 3rd anniversary

By Kim Rahn

Some 336,000 foreigners have found solutions to their daily inconveniences at the Seoul Global Center for the last three years, according to the center and Seoul Metropolitan Government.

The center, which provides comprehensive support to foreigners here, marked its third anniversary, Sunday.

Officials from related government bodies and members from the international community celebrated the occasion Saturday, with awards given to five volunteers who provided counseling services and Korean language classes to expats.

Participants also had a chance to experience Lunar New Year customs, including wearing hanbok, doing “sebae” (deep bows to parents and elders), and playing “yutnori” (a board game played with four sticks) and “jegi chagi” (kicking a shuttlecock).

For the last three years, an average of 155 foreigners visited the one-stop support organization a day. Including consultations via phone and fax, about 450 expats received services daily.

The organization has offered a variety of services, ranging from information on obtaining a driver’s license and taxation to business and counseling on daily life, in seven languages ― English, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Mongolian, Russian and Tagalog.

One of other programs it offers is its Business Start-up School, a free course for foreigners planning to open a business here. Those taking the course learn labor laws, taxation, market trends and more, and 18 expats so far have successfully started businesses.

From late February, the center’s website will be renewed to offer better online consultation, as well as provide smartphone counseling and a newsletter subscription service.

On-site counseling services will be extended starting this week for those who cannot visit the center: Consulting teams that visit Itaewon, Mongolian Town in Gwanghee-dong and Philippine Street in Hyehwa-dong on Sundays, will now visit every Monday and Wednesday as well.