Matriculation ceremony held for new students of Korea’s first marriage immigrant-sponsoring university department

Daegu Haany University’s (DHU) Department of Multicultural Welfare, the first academic department of its kind in Korea (established specifically for marriage immigrants and children of multicultural families) admitted 20 marriage immigrants for the 2024-25 academic year.

Matriculation ceremony

The ninth matriculation ceremony for the Multicultural Welfare Department, which was founded in 2015 and trains marriage immigrants and their children as multiculturalism experts, was held at DHU on March 9 (Sat). Attended by approximately 100 people, including entering students, their families, and university personnel, the ceremony included an oath-taking by one entering student, congratulatory remarks from guests, and presenting of entry certificates.

This year’s entering students, who have nationalities from seven countries (e.g. Vietnam, China, Japan, Uzbekistan, the Philippines, Indonesia) and range in age from 25 to 47, are a promising group that includes individuals with unique personal circumstances, including Kim Wol-suk, a mother of five who applied as soon as Gunwi-gun was transferred to the jurisdiction of Daegu Metropolitan City (DMC). Hoping to achieve her long-held dream of a university degree, Kim had wanted to apply for the Multicultural Welfare Department for years but was prevented from doing so because Gyeongsangbuk-do residents were not considered. There is also Wang Di, who recently gave birth to twins and stated her reason for wanting to attend DHU as an undergraduate degree in hopes that it will allow her to be a “good mom” to her children, who will be growing up as Korean citizens in Korea.

All entering students are fully funded in terms of tuition, which will be paid 50% each by DMC and DHU, and will be eligible to obtain a number of national licenses/certification upon graduation (social worker (grade 2), Korean language instructor (grade 2), healthy family specialist).

Of the department’s 85 graduates (as of February 2024), 74 have gained employment or started their own business (employment: 66, entrepreneurship: 8), making the average employment rate for the past five years a very respectable 87%. In recognition of such outcomes, the department received a special grant of KRW 60 million in 2023 by being recognized as an Outstanding Example of Support for Foreign Residents (contest hosted by Ministry of the Interior and Safety).

Song Ki-chan, head of DMC’s Youth and Women’s Education Division, said, “We will continue to work closely with the Department of Multicultural Welfare so that it can serve as a stepping stone for foreigners in Korea to become functioning members of their communities as well as concrete employment opportunities.”