To mark Family Month in May, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will host over 500 family participation programs at 244 family centers across South Korea. Family centers will offer a variety of cultural and recreational events, including the "Family Love Sports Day" (Ulju-gun Family Center), "Family Culture Festival" (Jeju City Family Center), and "Grandparent-Child Play Camp" (Daegu Nam-gu Family Center). There will also be bonding programs such as the "Father-Child Overnight Camp" (Suncheon City Family Center) and "The Happier Couple, the Happier Home" (Gwangju Nam-gu Family Center).
Residents in South Korea can now use mobile identification to handle administrative matters at local government offices and banks without needing a physical ID card. The government has enabled the issuance of mobile resident registration cards, providing citizens with a convenient digital alternative. There are two methods for obtaining a mobile ID. The first involves visiting a local administrative welfare center, completing the necessary paperwork, and scanning a QR code provided by the staff. This method allows for free issuance of a mobile resident registration card. Alternatively, individ
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Korea National Arboretum have issued a warning following continued reports of food poisoning and gastrointestinal symptoms from individuals consuming wild plants they mistook for edible greens. Over the past five years, 41 cases of poisoning related to wild plant consumption have been reported, with 33 of them—around 80%—occurring between March and June, highlighting the risk during the spring season. Identifying toxic plants is particularly challenging in spring, as it is often difficult to distinguish between edible and poisonous species based sol
The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education has published a new Korean language learning textbook for use in the 2025 “Gyeonggi Korean Language School (KLS)” program, also known as the Gyeonggi Korean Language Sharing School. The textbook will be distributed across the province and abroad. As the province with the highest number of multicultural students in the country, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education continues to implement policies to support these students’ smooth transition into the public education system. The newly published textbook was developed to enhance Korean language ed
The South Korean government is revising its immigration policies to allow foreign youths—such as second-generation immigrants—who have completed primary, middle, and high school in Korea to switch to work visas and continue residing with their families in the country, even if they do not pursue higher education. Additionally, the government will extend the "Status of stay to be granted to foreign children staying in Korea for a long term to guarantee their right to education" originally set to end on March 31, for another three years until March 31, 2028. The Ministry of Justice announced thes
The number of users registered in South Korea’s “119 Safety Call Service,” which provides tailored emergency medical support during crises, exceeded 1.21 million last year. According to the National Fire Agency, as of December 2023, a total of 1,218,534 people had signed up for the 119 Safety Call Service. The service allows emergency responders to access pre-registered personal information regardless of location, enabling them to deliver customized first aid and facilitate swift hospital transport. Anyone can sign up free of charge through a simple process. The service is available to all cit
The Ministry of Justice has announced the implementation of an "Electronic Entry Declaration" system, allowing foreign travelers entering South Korea to submit their entry declaration forms online. Previously, foreign nationals entering South Korea were required to manually complete a paper-based entry declaration form either onboard the aircraft or at the airport and submit it directly to an immigration officer. Immigration officers had to verify the submitted forms manually and scan them one by one during entry procedures, leading to prolonged immigration processing times. To address these i
Gyeonggi Province is enhancing social support from pregnancy preparation to childbirth and postpartum care to create a better pregnancy and childbirth environment this year. To support healthy pregnancies and childbirth for men and women of childbearing age, the province provides essential fertility testing costs for all individuals aged 20 to 49. During pregnancy, it offers essential nutritional supplements, medical expense support for adolescents and high-risk pregnant women, and psychological counseling. For postpartum recovery and maternal and neonatal health, Gyeonggi Province supports ma
Starting March 1, passengers will no longer be allowed to check in portable batteries or electronic cigarettes as part of their baggage, nor store them in overhead compartments inside the aircraft. To ensure immediate response in case of abnormal signs, passengers must carry these items on their person or store them in seat pockets. Charging portable batteries during the flight is also strictly prohibited. Particularly, terminals of embedded and protruding portable batteries must be insulated using electrical tape or stored in protective pouches, zippered bags, or plastic bags to prevent conta
The government announced that it has launched the issuance of mobile foreigner registration cards as of January this year. The mobile foreigner registration card can be used universally like the existing physical foreigner registration card and will also be expanded for use in non-face-to-face services in the future. All registered foreigners aged 14 and above who possess a smartphone in their name are eligible to obtain a mobile foreigner registration card, which carries the same legal validity as the physical card. The mobile foreigner registration card can be obtained through the Ministry o
하남시가족센터(센터장 문병용)는 지역 내 다문화가족과 유관기관을 대상으로 통·번역지원서비스를 연중 운영하며, 언어 소통에 어려움을 겪는 결혼이민자의 안정적 지역사회 적응을 적극 지원하고 있다. 특히 자녀가 어린이집, 유치원, 학교에 재학 중인 다문화가정의 수요가 높은 ‘가정통신문 다국어 번역서비스’는 큰 호응을 얻고 있다. 해당 서비스를 이용한 사나***코 씨는 “자동번역은 빠르고 편리하지만 가끔은 부정확해 이해되지 않는 부분이 있다. 가족센터 통번역사는 문장 번역뿐 아니라 한국 문화나 말속에 담긴 의미까지 설명해줘서 큰 도움이 된다.”고 만족감을 전했다. 현재 하남시가족센터에는 일본어 전문 통번역사가 상주하고 있으며, 중국어·베트남어·영어 등 다른 언어권의 번역이 필요한 경우 서포터즈사업 및 타 센터 통번역사와의 연계를 통해 다양한 언어 서비스를 제공하고 있다. 통번역지원서비스는 전액 무료로 제공되며, 이용을 원하는 시민은 하남시가족센터(031-793-2993) 사업2팀으로 문의하면 된다.
지난 11월 15일, 하남시가족센터 모두가족봉사단이 ‘자원봉사자의 날(Honour’s Day)’ 기념행사를 성황리에 개최했다. 이날 행사는 2025년 한 해 동안 진행된 봉사단의 활동 실적과 성과를 공유하며, 참여자들의 노고를 격려하는 자리로 마련됐다. 먼저 2025년 모두가족봉사단의 연간 실적과 주요 성과가 발표되었고, 가족 봉사자들은 “의미 있고 성장하는 한 해였다”, “자신의 시간과 열정을 나누는 분들이 있어 감사와 배움을 느꼈다” 등 다양한 피드백을 나누며 서로를 격려했다. 특히 이번 행사에서는 모두가족봉사단이 함께 영화 ‘퍼스트 라이드’를 관람하며 가족, 이웃 간 유대감을 더욱 돈독히 하는 시간을 가졌다. 연간 활동 영상 시청부터 영화 감상까지 한 자리에서 경험한 봉사자들은 밝은 표정으로 행사를 마무리하며 높은 만족감을 보였다. 문병용 센터장은 “올 한 해 봉사자들의 헌신 덕분에 지역사회에 다양한 긍정적 변화가 있었다”며 “앞으로도 가족이 함께 성장하고 소통하는 봉사 활동을 지속적으로 확대해 나가겠다”고 말했다.
구리시가족센터는 12월 4일 구리시 여성행복센터 4층 대강당에서 아이돌보미 140여 명이 참여한 가운데 '2025년 아이 돌봄 지원사업 성과공유회'를 성황리에 개최했다고 밝혔다. 아이돌봄지원사업은 양육 공백이 발생한 가정의 생후 3개월부터 12세 이하 아동에게 아이돌보미가 직접 방문해 돌봄 서비스를 제공하는 사업이다. 이번 성과공유회는 한 해 동안 구리시 아이돌봄서비스 현장에서 활동한 아이돌보미들의 노고를 격려하고, 사업 성과를 공유하기 위해 마련된 자리이다. 행사에서는 성실한 활동으로 타의 모범이 된 우수 아이돌보미에 대한 시상식이 진행됐으며, 정서적 회복과 스트레스 해소를 위한 '힐링 프로그램'도 함께 운영돼 참석자들의 큰 호응을 얻었다. 윤성은 구리시가족센터장은 "한 해 동안 묵묵히 헌신해 주신 아이돌보미 선생님들께 진심으로 감사드린다"라며 "앞으로도 아이돌보미 선생님들이 자부심을 가지고 안정적으로 활동할 수 있도록 지속적으로 지원하겠다"라고 말했다. 한편, 구리시가족센터는 아이돌봄서비스의 전문성과 품질 향상을 위해 정기적인 아이돌보미 집담회와 정서 치유 프로그램 등을 운영하고 있다. 아이 돌봄 지원사업 관련 문의는 구리시가족센터 아이돌봄팀(031-55