Li Yan (left) and writer Nguyen Thanh Tuyen, the two hosts of the Sejong FM show “Friendly Radio Chat for the Whole Family,” on Aug. 2 tell stories of listeners sent to the radio station in Sejong.
By Margareth Theresia
Photos = Margareth Theresia
Every Friday at 10 a.m., a radio show on Sejong FM 98.9 shares honest and heartwarming stories of multicultural families in the country.
“Hello, we are MCs Choi Kumsil and Li Yan from Sejong Family Center and the hosts of ‘Friendly Radio Chat for the Whole Family.'” The show opens with a cheerful greeting from the two DJs, Choi Kumsil and Li Yan. A Chinese greeting follows to harmonize both Korean and Chinese naturally to appeal to a variety of listeners.
The program covers multicultural families of diverse cultural backgrounds frankly sharing their daily lives, experiences and concerns while introducing and understanding each other’s cultures.
Hosting a radio show as they did for two days must have been tough for all hosts, not just Choi and Li, since Korean is not their mother tongue. Still, they humorously share stories of their misunderstandings and mistakes with Korean that they experienced in their daily routines, making listeners laugh and feel compassion.
Choi said, “In any country, I think that understanding the language is the first step to truly understanding its culture.”
All hosts and writers of the show must complete media education at Sejong Family Center to participate, which must have been a challenge for them. Putting priority on expanding the inclusiveness and understanding of Korean society, they exert their passion to deliver the diverse voices of multicultural families.
So did their sincerity move listeners? Apparently so as people post comments on the show’s bulletin board stressing the importance of a multicultural society.
Han Yu Ri, head of the Training & Consulting Team 1 at Sejong City Hall, said, “‘Friendly Radio Chat for the Whole Family’ combines the radio shows ‘On, All Family Chatroom’ that families in Sejong take part in and the emotional ‘Dajeongdagam’ by multicultural families.”
“This show plays an important role in expanding the community participation of marriage immigrant women and boosting acceptance of multiculturalism,” she added.
Han said the show is mainly led by marriage immigrants from Vietnam and China but that she will try to expand the scope to more countries.
“Friendly Radio Chat for the Whole Family” host Choi Kumsil (right) on Aug. 2 talks with co-host Nguyen Thi Hong Yen (second from right), writer Si Qin and the show’s mentor You Keum Ryung while hosting the program at the radio station Sejong FM in Sejong City.
Launched in 2007, Sejong Family Center has the vision of achieving and embracing a Sejong family community going beyond diversity. This campaign led to the show emerging as a valuable platform to capture the voices of multicultural families.
In April, the center was honored for its “best practice in family center service” by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. It was also hailed as an exemplary case of achieving the national task of “creating a family where nobody is left out and everyone lives together.”
As an impetus to make Korean society more inclusive and diverse, the show is available on YouTube as well as in the Sejong region.
margareth@korea.kr
