Together Day: Building a Society of Respect for Each Other’s Culture and Traditions – May 2025

By Lee Boram

From a Homogeneous Nation to a Multicultural Korea!

The founding myth of Gojoseon, Korea’s first kingdom, is a fascinating tale known as the Dangun myth. The story goes that Hwanung, the son of a heavenly god, descended to the human world. A bear and a tiger who wished to become human had to endure 100 days in a cave, avoiding sunlight and consuming only mugwort and garlic. The tiger gave up and fled, but the bear endured and was transformed into a woman, Ungnyeo. She later married Hwanung and gave birth to Dangun, who founded Gojoseon in 2333 BCE.

Even after thousands of years since the legendary founding of Korea by Dangun, all Koreans grow up learning this myth from kindergarten and elementary school, and it has deeply rooted the perception that Korea is a homogeneous nation, descended from Dangun.

However, can we still call Korea a homogeneous nation today? On university campuses, people from various racial and national backgrounds are a common sight. In places like Gwangsan- gu, where many foreigners reside, Korean is not always spoken, and exotic foods and drinks are easily found in local markets and on the streets.

According to data released in 2024 by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Korea’s total population was 51.18 million, with 2.46 million foreign residents, accounting for 4.8 percent – the highest in history. This data, reflecting figures from 2023, shows that Korea is approaching the OECD threshold of five percent foreign residents, after which a country is considered a “multi- ethnic, multi-racial nation.” Korea is now on the verge of officially becoming a multicultural nation

As Korean society transitions into one where immigrants play key roles in education, agriculture, industry, and entertainment, the Ministry of Justice enacted the Framework Act on Treatment of Foreigners Residing in the Republic of Korea. In 2007, May 20 was designated as “Together Day,” aiming to create a society where Korean nationals and foreign residents respect each other’s cultures and traditions. First celebrated in 2008, this year marks the eighteenth Together Day, soon approaching its twentieth anniversary.

But have societal attitudes and perceptions towards immigrants changed much over the past two decades? Many immigrants still report experiencing discrimination and prejudice in Korean society. There is ongoing concern not only about policies for immigrants but also about Korea’s cultural sensitivity and capacity for social integration.

While tools like ChatGPT and Google Translate often translate “세계인의 날” literally as “Global Citizens Day,” the Ministry of Justice has officially designated the English name as “Together Day,” emphasizing the importance of togetherness. This shift reflects a clear intention to foster an inclusive society where diverse cultures harmonize – not merely through integration but through mutual acceptance.

This aligns with Gwangju Metropolitan City’s vision of becoming an “inclusive city.” Gwangju was the first metropolitan city among major Korean cities to reorganize its municipal departments to establish the Department of International Residents, dedicated to policy and budget planning for its international population. It also functions as a unified control tower managing public–private–academic cooperation. In April 2024, Gwangju established the Gwangju International Residents Center to provide comprehensive services to international residents.

With strong support and collaboration from the Department of International Residents, organizations such as the Gwangju International Center and the Gwangju International Residents Center, along with various organizations that provide services for international residents, are collaborating to organize this year’s Together Day celebration with even more diverse and meaningful programs.

Together Day 2025: May 24

The 2025 Gwangju Together Day will take place on May 24 on the first floor of Gwangju City Hall. It will be a vibrant gathering where people of different nationalities and communities come together with Gwangju citizens to enjoy and share global cultures. Visitors can experience food and culture prepared directly by international residents, explore services offered by international resident support institutions, and even access embassy and consulate services. By collecting stamps at booths, participants can enter raffies to win a variety of prizes.

The Together Day celebration aims to promote the participation of foreign residents in local communities, raise human rights and cultural awareness among Gwangju citizens, and help them appreciate immigrant cultures and global cultural diversity. This will contribute to building a truly inclusive Gwangju.

May Korea continue its journey towards becoming a healthy multicultural nation – one that genuinely embodies the Together Day spirit of “respecting each other’s cultures and traditions while living together in harmony.”