Three of 25 Nationwide Are from Jeju... Youths from Immigrant Backgrounds Become Mentors for Younger Peers

【Financial News Jeju = Reporter Yong-bok Jeong】 Youths who once adapted to unfamiliar languages and cultures are now stepping forward as mentors for younger peers facing similar challenges. Three youths from Jeju were among the 25 youth ambassadors for those from immigrant backgrounds selected for the first time by the Ministry of Justice.
The Jeju Immigration and Foreigners Office held an appointment ceremony for the first group of the Ministry of Justice’s youth ambassadors for those from immigrant backgrounds at its main auditorium on the afternoon of the 15th and presented appointment certificates to the selected youths from Jeju.
A total of 25 youths from 12 countries were selected nationwide as ambassadors. Three of them are from Jeju Province.
The ambassadors’ role is to share their experiences of settling in South Korea with other youths from immigrant backgrounds. Their own experiences of facing language and cultural differences after first arriving in South Korea can help younger peers adjust to school life and their local communities.
The selected youths will serve for two years, from August 1 through August 31, 2028. They will participate in mentoring, educational volunteer work, the promotion of immigration policies, and the production of related content.
Unlike conventional promotional activities, in which administrative agencies unilaterally explain policies, this program allows youths directly affected by those policies to communicate them from the perspective of their own experiences and peers.
In Jeju, Im Byeol and Park Seo-hee are among those serving as ambassadors. Im Byeol, a first-year student at Samsung Girls’ High School, said, "Drawing on my experiences, I will become a strong support for youths from diverse cultural backgrounds."
Park Seo-hee, a second-year student at Sehwa High School, recalled her experiences when she first arrived in South Korea. Park said, "Because I experienced cultural and language differences when I first came to South Korea, I can understand the difficulties faced by friends from immigrant backgrounds better than anyone. I will do my best to help them."
For youths from immigrant backgrounds, adapting to school and the local community is as important as language education. Advice from peers who have gone through similar experiences can serve as a link to resolving everyday problems that administrative agencies or teachers may find difficult to address.
Ha Yong-guk, head of the Jeju Immigration and Foreigners Office, said, "The selection of three ambassadors in Jeju, an international free city, is a meaningful result that shows Jeju provides an environment where youths from immigrant backgrounds can develop their dreams and abilities. We will actively support them so that they can grow into members of the local community."


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