South Korea is moving toward becoming a more multicultural society (다문화 사회) with over 2.11 million foreign residents—about 4.1 % of the population—as of early August 2025.

Government programs now offer 언어 수업 (eoneo su-eop)—language classes—and 멘토링 프로그램 (mentoring peurogeuraem) in cities like Ansan and Gwangju to help immigrants integrate. These efforts promote 공정함 (gongjeongham)—fairness—and 기회 (gihwae)—opportunity—but many still face 차별 (chabyeol)—discrimination—and feel treated as 경제적 단위 (gyeongjejeok danwi), economic units. This pivotal shift reflects Korea’s changing demographics and a new cultural conversation about identity and inclusion.

Vocabulary

-Multicultural society 다문화 사회 (damun-hwa sahoe)

-Language classes 언어 수업 (eoneo su-woo)

-Mentoring program 멘토링 프로그램 (mento-ring peuro-geuraem)

-Fairness 공정함 (gongjeong-ham)

-Opportunity 기회 (gi-hoe)

-Discrimination 차별 (cha-byeol)

-Economic unit 경제적 단위 (gyeong-jejeok danwi)

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