Korea expands multilingual lifeline for migrant women facing violence

A multilingual web poster provides information on support services for migrant women affected by violence. Courtesy of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family

Migrant women experiencing domestic abuse, sexual violence, stalking or other forms of violence in Korea will soon have easier access to help in their native languages under a new government outreach effort announced Tuesday.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said it has produced web posters in 11 languages to raise awareness of support services available to migrant women affected by violence, including information on eligibility, available assistance and reporting procedures.

The posters are available in Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipino, Mongolian, Russian, Thai, Khmer, Uzbek, Japanese, Lao and Nepali.

The ministry said the materials will be distributed through 20 immigration and foreigner offices nationwide, seven regional labor offices and local administrative welfare centers to ensure that migrant women are aware of available support regardless of language barriers or immigration status.

The ministry said all migrant women who experience violence, including marriage migrants, migrant workers and undocumented migrants, are eligible for assistance.

Women affected by domestic violence, sexual violence, prostitution-related crimes, stalking or dating violence can seek support through the Women’s Emergency Hotline 1366, the Danuri Call Center (1577-1366) and counseling centers for migrant women.

The 1366 hotline and the Danuri Call Center operate around the clock throughout the year.

The Danuri Call Center provides services in 13 languages, including Korean and English, in addition to the 11 languages used in the outreach campaign.

The ministry said victims and their children can also receive assistance through nine counseling centers for migrant women located across the country and 33 protection facilities.

Services include counseling, medical and legal support, immigration-related assistance, interpretation services, temporary protection and housing support.

Protection facilities also provide meals, accommodation and vocational training aimed at helping victims achieve financial independence.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.