Gangnam-gu is experiencing a surge in the number of registered foreign residents and multicultural families, and establishing an administrative environment that facilitates the settlement and participation of residents with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds has become a critical challenge.
In particular, the language and institutional barriers faced by migrant residents in accessing administrative, educational, and lifestyle information are considered key challenges for local social integration and administrative efficiency. To address
this, the district is strengthening its communication-based administration by establishing a multilingual, multichannel administrative communication system , aiming to bridge the information gap and expand resident participation.
division | Key Contents |
|---|---|
| Policy objectives | Ensuring administrative accessibility without language or cultural barriers |
| applied area | Policy promotion, civil complaints, lifestyle information, education, safety, etc. |
| Expected effect | Reducing the information gap · Improving administrative trust · |
According to the March 2025 foreign resident registration statistics, Gangnam-gu counted approximately 3,526 registered foreign residents. The Gangnam-gu Office
also provides explanatory material stating, "11,700 Foreign Residents, Multicultural Gangnam." While the Gangnam-gu Office
operates a multicultural family support center and a foreign resident center, providing information and support infrastructure for immigrant residents, further analysis is needed regarding the level of multilingual guidance and integrated platforms.
item | detail |
|---|---|
| Number of foreign registrants | Approximately 3,526 people (as of March 2025) |
| Multicultural and foreign population size | Data exists indicating a population of approximately 11,700 people. |
| Major infrastructure | Multicultural Family Support Center, Global Village Center, etc. ( Gangnam-gu Office ) |
| Key Features | The presence of diverse linguistic and cultural populations, coupled with a high demand for access to lifestyle information. |
The following are key examples of recent press releases from Gangnam-gu regarding immigrant residents and communication administration.
- "Multicultural Dining Tables Created by Single-Person Households and Foreign Residents" was operated. The Single-Person Household Community Center, Global Village Center, and library collaborated to conduct cultural exchange programs with foreign residents. Gangnam District Office
- Through meetings between foreign residents and district mayors, practical difficulties such as language, culture, and living expenses are shared. Seoul Pn
date | title | Key Contents |
|---|---|---|
| August 31, 2025 | Implementation of the Multicultural Dining Table Program | Cultural and culinary experiences for foreign residents and single-person households |
| 2024-10-09 | Foreign Residents Meeting | Collecting suggestions and opinions from the district head and foreign residents |
The mayor of Gangnam-gu is emphasizing policies to alleviate the inconveniences and integrate foreign residents, emphasizing his goal of making Gangnam a "global city." (See meeting remarks and press release.) Minutes from the Seoul Metropolitan
Government's Provincial Council have also been confirmed, showing questions regarding multicultural family support and foreign residents. While the Gangnam-gu Council
has currently proposed policy initiatives such as strengthening the multilingual administrative system and establishing an integrated civil complaint platform, the specific details of the proposed ordinance revisions require further confirmation.
Subject | Key Contents |
|---|---|
| alderman | Emphasize policies to alleviate inconveniences faced by foreign residents and integrate them. |
| District Council | Discussion on expanding multicultural family-related legislative inquiries and support |
| Member of the National Assembly | Interest in improving policies and systems for local foreign residents (data limited) |
The Gangnam-gu website's Multicultural and Foreign Resident Support menu provides information on organizations such as the Multicultural Family Support Center and the Global Village Center. Gangnam-gu Office
also regularly releases statistics on foreign residents and multicultural residents, with the most recent "Multicultural Statistics" data released on June 12, 2024. However, please confirm with the Gangnam-gu Office
whether multilingual civil complaint forms and multilingual public notice materials are available.
item | Operational details |
|---|---|
| Institution Information | Providing basic information such as multicultural support centers |
| statistical data | Annual multicultural and foreign resident statistics released |
| Available in multiple languages | Additional confirmation of multilingual civil complaints and notices is required. |
Gangnam-gu operates cultural experience and multicultural awareness programs for both foreign residents and the general public. For example, on May 15, 2024, a program titled "Foreign Teachers Visit Schools to Share World Cultures" was implemented. While public data on whether Gangnam -gu
Office is strengthening its multilingual guidance in living and safety areas is limited, the need for improved access to living information and a stronger safety net for immigrants and foreign residents was highlighted in the council inquiry minutes.
field | Main Programs and Contents |
|---|---|
| education | World culture understanding education, school experience classes with foreign instructors |
| life | Cultural Exchange Program for Foreign Residents |
| safety | Discussions on civil complaints and safety support involving foreign residents are underway. |
Specific data on multilingual support systems for civil affairs and administrative services for immigrant residents is still limited.
The Gangnam Global Village Center serves as a gateway for foreign residents to settle in and provide information. The availability of multilingual civil affairs materials and notices for Seoul Pn+1
and the language support system for each civil affairs center require further improvement.
item | Status and Notes |
|---|---|
| Civil complaint window | Existence of counseling and counters exclusively for foreign residents (center-based) |
| Multilingual civil complaint support | Limited official data ⇒ Additional development required |
| Administrative Procedure Guide | Please check whether separate guidance is provided in English, Chinese, etc. |
Gangnam-gu provides lifestyle, policy, and cultural information through its website and official social media channels. Instructions for signing up for the KakaoTalk channel are clearly stated on the website. For example, a press release from August 31, 2025, introduced the use of QR codes for the channel. The official name and detailed features of the Gangnam-gu Office
's multilingual integrated platform have not been disclosed, so information such as future implementation plans are needed.
platform | Features provided | Improvement tasks |
|---|---|---|
| website | Posting of notices and lifestyle information, introduction of the institution | Need to strengthen multilingual automatic translation functions |
| Mobile/Messenger | Notices and notifications via KakaoTalk channel | Separate foreign language channels and implement customized notifications |
| QR/Offline | Introducing the Poster/Flyer QR Code Integration Program | Need to expand QR-based multilingual guidance |
Gangnam-gu is building a multi-channel communication system covering daily life, culture, civil complaints, and information to ensure integrated administration for residents with immigrant backgrounds. The district is also strengthening practical support through cultural exchange programs and meetings with foreign residents.
However, there is room for improvement in some areas, such as multilingual civil complaint support forms, integrated platform functions, and foreign language-based information disclosure. Therefore, future systematic advancements are crucial.
This report can be used as a foundation for assessing the level of communication with residents with immigrant backgrounds in the district and recommending sustainable policy directions.
Strengthening communication with residents with immigrant backgrounds will have the following expected benefits:
Improved information accessibility → Increased use of administrative services
Expanding resident participation → Accelerated improvement of policies and living environments.
Strengthening administrative trust → Reducing administrative costs and improving the integrated index
