By Margareth Theresia
Video = Park Dae Jin

At 10 a.m. on Sept. 11 at the auditorium of Seoul Foreign Resident Center in the capital's Yeongdeungpo-gu District, foreign and Korean students in a dance class swayed together to the beat of "Golden," a hit from the Netflix animated blockbuster "KPop Demon Hunters," blaring from speakers.

Despite differences in nationality and language, they found common ground through dance in the class, which is part of the center's cultural exchange program.

The class was more than a hobby but a venue for exchange where strangers communicated through hand gestures and eye contact and learned about each other's cultures. Laughter spread amid the sweat and exercise and participants grew closer.

Lee Hoeyeong, head of the program operations team at Seoul Foreign Resident Center, said, "Our center is a hub for support facilities geared toward foreign residents, providing comprehensive services including education, culture, community and consultation."

Seoul has about 440,000 expats who comprise 5% of the city's population, making the capital a cosmopolitan hub. Yet living together does not necessarily equate with becoming true neighbors. 

So for such residents to live as members of the community rather than just guests, they need a platform for connection and exchange.

The center offers that connection through comprehensive support for education, culture, community and consultations and practical issues involving the law, labor, housing and visas. For small daily inconveniences and anxiety that stems from an unfamiliar environment, the staff is there to assist expats to help them adapt to life in Seoul.

"We help expats adapt to the local community and stimulate their social integration with locals," said Lee Hoeyeong, head of the center's program operations team. "We constantly create opportunities for expats and locals to mingle and learn together."

Participants of Seoul Foreign Resident Center's K-pop dance class in 2023 perform at the Gwanak Intercultural Festival in Seoul's Gwanak-gu District. (Seoul Foreign Resident Center)

The dance class is a leading example of the center's assistance. With 12 weekly sessions, the program offers participants a chance to perform at a festival. In 2023, graduates of the course performed at the Gwanak Intercultural Festival and received much applause.

Lee added, "We're making a venue where expats can come any time they need help."

margareth@korea.kr