A Shelter for Displaced Foreign Workers... 304 Helped Get Back on Their Feet

Operation of 'Migrant Guardian Angel 911 Shelter' in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju
Housing, Counseling, and Self-Reliance Support
Capacity Remains Insufficient

"This place is not just a shelter; it is a space for recovery and a starting point of hope, helping migrants and foreign workers catch their breath and continue on with their lives."

As Ju Eunpyo, head of the Asia Human Rights and Culture Foundation, expressed, the 'Migrant Guardian Angel 911 Shelter' in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju is serving as a lifeline for foreign workers in crisis. In just over four months since its opening, more than 300 foreign workers have used the shelter. However, the facility's capacity remains insufficient compared to the growing demand, highlighting the urgent need for expansion.

Exterior sign of 'Nanum House Migrant Shelter (Migrant Guardian Angel 911 Shelter)' in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. This facility, created through the Wolgok 2-dong Urban Regeneration New Deal Project, serves as a space to provide temporary housing and support for self-reliance to migrant workers and migrants in crisis. Photo by Bohyun Song

Opened in February, the third Nanum House branch—'Migrant Guardian Angel 911 Shelter' in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju—provides emergency accommodation and a space for recovery for vulnerable foreign workers who have lost their place to go due to issues such as breach of employment contracts, low wages, a lack of job opportunities, delayed payments, and housing insecurity.

As of June, the cumulative number of residents at the shelter reached 304. Among them, 232 were men (76.3%) and 72 were women (23.7%). Most residents were foreign workers in crisis, requiring urgent protection.

The number of foreign workers hoping to use the shelter continues to rise, but available accommodation remains insufficient. Some applicants are guided to other facilities or temporary housing. A shelter official stated, "It is very distressing and heartbreaking whenever we are unable to accept those who desperately need help and have to refer them elsewhere. Expanding shelter facilities and ensuring ongoing interest and support from the local community are urgently needed so that more vulnerable foreign workers can stay safely and get back on their feet."

A view of the "Migrant Guardian Angel 911 Shelter" in Gwangsan District, Gwangju.

Located at 8-10 Sanjeong-ro 17beon-gil, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, the 'Migrant Guardian Angel 911 Shelter' offers emergency housing support, grievance counseling, daily living assistance, medical and administrative referrals, labor and human rights counseling, and support for rights protection. It serves as a local safety net, assisting foreign workers in crisis to stably adapt to the community and achieve self-reliance.

Ju Eunpyo stated, "Foreign workers are also valuable members of the local community," adding, "The most important role of the shelter is to create an environment where anyone can be safely protected and get back on their feet, even in sudden crises." He continued, "We will continue to expand various support programs to protect the human rights and promote the welfare of vulnerable foreign workers, and to help them settle stably in society, in cooperation with the local community."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.