Migrant self-help groups
Don't try to work everything out alone. Those who arrived before you know the answers.
Types of group
- National communities — groups of people who share your language.
- Family centre self-help groups — for marriage immigrants, for parents.
- Occupational groups — people working in the same sector.
- Faith communities — support built around worship and gatherings. See religious-community.
- Online communities — exchanging information. The Dasarang boards are one of them.
How to find one
- Ask at a family centre or foreign residents' support centre.
- Check local programmes on the Danuri portal (liveinkorea.kr).
- Ask 1577-1366 in your own language.
- Check your local authority's foreign resident support centre website.
- Ask faith organisations and local NGOs. See ngo-support.
Why they help
- Information — first-hand experience of visas, hospitals, schools, finding housing.
- Interpretation and company — someone to go with you to offices and hospitals.
- Emotional support — understanding from people who have been through it.
- Connection to Korean society — local events and volunteering. See volunteer-opportunities.
Where to go
- 1577-1366 Danuri Call Centre
- Danuri portal www.liveinkorea.kr
- Your nearest family centre or foreign residents' support centre
- 1345 Immigration Contact Centre
- Your local community centre
Questions people ask
How do I start? Try attending one family centre programme. A single visit leads to connections.
I want to make Korean friends. Local volunteering, cultural programmes and community centre classes are good starting points. See community-center.
The group collects money. Public programmes are mostly free. For private groups, ask what the subscription is spent on.
How do I know a group is trustworthy? See the warning below.
Take care
If talk turns to "let's pool money and invest" or "there's a high-return side job", step back. Scams that exploit migrant communities really happen. Be equally wary of anyone asking for money to sort out your visa or job. Official procedures can be verified with 1345. See scam-prevention and job-scam.
Related
religious-community · ngo-support · family-center · volunteer-opportunities · scam-prevention
Source
Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Danuri portal www.liveinkorea.kr / As of 2026-08