Foreign residents form Seoul's new community volunteer corps

Seoul has officially established a new community volunteer corps comprising international residents, marking a fresh approach to civic engagement in Korea as its foreign population continues to play a significant role in shaping the city's civic life. The Seoul Metropolitan Government inaugurated the Global Baro Volunteer Corps at Seoul City Hall over the weekend.

The initiative, dubbed "One Heart Seoul, Global Hands," attracted approximately 200 participants, including Deputy Mayor for Administrative Affairs Kim Sung-bo, along with volunteers from various corners of the globe. The corps is comprised of 314 foreign residents, organized into 16 teams representing 42 nationalities. Members hail from countries such as Vietnam, China, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Russia, Kazakhstan, Japan, and Malaysia.

The concept for the group originated last year when foreign residents spontaneously joined municipal relief teams responding to wildfires in Andong and Yeongdeok, as well as flood recovery efforts in Yesan and Gapyeong. This spontaneous response impressed officials, leading to the official formation of the volunteer corps.