Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do, is set to successfully host the ‘2025 8th Multicultural Harmony Festival’ at the Gurye Indoor Gymnasium on Saturday, July 13th. This meaningful event, held annually from 12 PM to 6 PM, aims to expand exchanges among multicultural families, promote mutual cultural understanding, and contribute to the establishment of a healthy multicultural society.

A Venue for Cultural Exchange and Communication with Diverse Programs 

The Multicultural Harmony Festival will feature a variety of booths and engaging programs, starting with a commemorative ceremony and congratulatory remarks from distinguished guests. In particular, the world traditional food, clothing, and play experience booths will offer participating families a precious opportunity to directly experience and understand other cultures. They can naturally form cultural empathy by tasting traditional dishes from various countries like Vietnam and the Philippines, trying on vibrant traditional costumes, and enjoying unique games from each nation.

In addition, a fun sports day for the whole family will be a time for participants to foster teamwork and create pleasant memories. The talent show stage, where multicultural families can showcase their hidden talents, is expected to further heighten the excitement of the event. Besides these, an instant photo booth (Insaengnecut) will be operated to capture special moments, and generous prize draws and commemorative gifts will also be distributed, enhancing participant satisfaction.

Expectations for Enhanced Sense of Belonging as Community Members 

Kim Soon-ho, Mayor of Gurye-gun, expressed his expectations for the event, stating, "Through this event, I hope multicultural families feel a sense of belonging as members of the local community and expand opportunities to connect with their neighbors." He added, "We will continue to do our best to discover policies for multicultural families who will lead Gurye's future." This statement highlights Gurye-gun's recognition of multicultural families not merely as recipients of support, but as important constituents and future drivers of the local society.

Gurye-gun acknowledges the growing importance of multicultural families in a rapidly changing society and is exploring various support policies to help them stably settle and unleash their potential within the local community. This Harmony Festival is also part of these efforts, focusing on respecting cultural diversity and encouraging the social participation of multicultural families.

Continued Interest and Support for Multicultural Families 

The Gurye-gun Family Center, which organizes the event, has been actively promoting it to multicultural families in Gurye-gun through invitations and posters. The Family Center supports multicultural families in adapting to Korean society, offering various support programs such as Korean language education, cultural experience programs, and counseling services. This event, as an extension of these efforts, is expected to greatly contribute to providing opportunities for multicultural families to communicate and interact with the local community, and to strengthen their bonds.

For multicultural families to successfully integrate into the local society, not only policy support from the government and local authorities but also the interest and inclusive attitude of local residents are essential. Events like Gurye-gun's Multicultural Harmony Festival play a crucial role in breaking down cultural barriers and fostering mutual understanding, ultimately contributing to the creation of a more harmonious and prosperous local community. Gurye-gun plans to continue its efforts to ensure that multicultural families are not marginalized and can stand proudly as members of the local community.