Woongjin Foundation said it is preparing multilingual radiocasting for interracial families in Korea. The radiocast will be available 24 hours a day starting Aug. 1 through an audio channel of Skylife, the sole satellite TV operator in Korea, and a channel of cable TV operator C&M, said Woongjin, a leading education group.

The radio programs will be provided in the languages of four countries from which many people come to Korea for marriage or jobs ― China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand. The foundation said that getting information from a foreign country will be much easier if it is provided in the mother tongue. The radio programs will be provided in the languages of four countries from which many people come to Korea for marriage or jobs ― China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand. The foundation said that getting information from a foreign country will be much easier if it is provided in the mother tongue. ``Native speakers will host the programs, most of which will be presented in their languages with short interpretations in Korean at the end of each program. It will help foreign audiences learn Korean as well as Korean listeners to learn other languages,'' Shin Hyon-ung, head of the foundation, said. Traditional and modern music of the nations will account for most of the broadcasting, while educational and cultural programs, such as medical information, legal counseling, job information, and an introduction to Korean culture and customs, will also be aired. ``We are recruiting native speakers to host the shows, among students studying in Korea, foreign spouses, and wives of diplomats,'' Shin said. The programs will be broadcast live for six hours and re-broadcast for 18 hours by the end of the year. Next year, the live broadcasting time will be expanded to 12 hours and four languages will be added ― Mongolian, Japanese, Russian and Arabic. ``Many multicultural families suffer social and cultural isolation from the language barrier. We hope the radio broadcast will help them become true members of society,'' Shin said. At the same time, the government is also taking steps to help foreign spouses better adapt themselves to Korean culture. The Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Family Affairs said it will publish a magazine on basic information needed for life in Korea in five languages. The first edition of the quarterly magazine ``Rainbow+'' was issued in English and Korean in April. The government will add four languages ― Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Tagalog ― for the second edition. The magazine provides information about Korea, from living tips to major policies, for foreign spouses here. About 70,000 copies will be distributed through embassies and immigration offices, so that foreign nationals can get this information when they enter Korea. Taken from The Korea Times, 13 May 2008