공장서 일하던 이주노동자, 일요일엔 학생으로…대학 꿈 키운다

Dmitri, a 33-year-old Sri Lankan immigrant worker, arrived in South Korea in 2016 due to a labor permit system. He had to stop his education in middle school back home because of his family's financial situation. He started working at a landfill in Pyeongchang County, but struggled to communicate and often wished to return home.

After seeking better job opportunities, his fellow countrymen advised him to learn Korean. He attended classes during the day and studied Korean at night. Even on his day off, Sunday, he continued to learn the language. With this commitment, he developed an interest in higher education. Inspired by his colleagues, he set his sights on attending university.

He visited the University of Dong-A and attended an entrance seminar, finding out about the "Seondeul Early School," a program that offers free education on the lower Korean high school exams for foreign workers without a high school diploma. Dmitri passed the lower and middle school exams consecutively last year and this year, and also achieved the top score of 6th grade in the Korean language proficiency test.

This is a remarkable transformation from someone who couldn't even understand "Hello" ten years ago. This is not just Dmitri's story. Vietnamese married women Bak Jeong-hyun (34) and Lety Kieu Qin (30) also studied at the school, completing their middle and high school education within six months and passing the lower-level Korean high school exam in November.

Cambodian immigrant worker Petday (37) is also preparing for university while balancing work and studies. Teacher Byung-hye Park, who has guided these students, was struck by their determined eyes despite working all weekdays and attending classes on Sundays. Park remarked, "Though exhausted, students still eagerly attend the classroom, and their determination and love for life have taught me a lot."

Since its launch last year, the program has welcomed 72 students from various countries. The University of Dong-A uniquely opens its lecture halls and teaching staff to employed foreign workers, a feature enabled by its long-standing experience in educating migrant workers under the Ministry of Justice's Social Integration Program since 2009.

President Eui-yeong Lee stated that what matters more than a diploma is the confidence gained by migrant workers in returning to Korea, saying, "I will turn this into a stepping stone leading to graduation and skill enhancement." Dmitri now plans to study welding or smart car technology at the University of Dong-A, aiming for a career as a technician in South Korea. He emphasizes that his journey began with "Hello."