The Korea Herald

지나쌤

Call center opened for foreign wives

By 배지숙

Published : June 20, 2011 - 19:11

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POSCO Chairman Chung Joon-yang (fourth from left), Rep. Kim Hye-seong (fifth from left) and Paik Hee-young (sixth from left), minister of gender equality and family affairs, applaud at the opening ceremony of Danuri Call Center on Monday in Seoul. (Yonhap News) POSCO Chairman Chung Joon-yang (fourth from left), Rep. Kim Hye-seong (fifth from left) and Paik Hee-young (sixth from left), minister of gender equality and family affairs, applaud at the opening ceremony of Danuri Call Center on Monday in Seoul. (Yonhap News)

A call center was opened Monday to help foreign wives adjust to life in Korea.

According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Affairs, the “Danuri Call Center,” will provide foreign spouses of Koreans with diverse information about life in Seoul in Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and seven other languages.

The call center is accessible at 1577-5432.

Located in Hapjeong-dong, western Seoul, and sponsored by POSCO, the center is staffed with nine foreigners fluent in the Korean language and two Korean counselors. They will provide telephone counseling services from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Those who do not speak Korean well will be able to receive an interpretation service. The Korean Bar Association will dispatch a lawyer once a month for pro bono service.

The call center will test run the center until September ahead of its official launch.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)