[The Hankyoreh, January 18 2008] Immigrant group hopes translated comic books and films can ease transition to Korean life

Materials translated into four languages will be distributed to immigrant organizations nationwide

A group of immigrants from a number of South Asian nations will distribute four South Korean comic books and movies, after having translated them into their mother tongues. The project was initiated as a way to help future immigrants adapt to life in South Korea, but faced a number of obstacles following a crackdown on migrant workers that took place last year.

On January 17, Cultural Action, a liberal civic group which is actively engaged in affirmative action and cultural reforms, announced that eight to nine immigrants from various South Asian nations had completed the translation of four South Korean comic books and films into Tagalog, Vietnamese, Chinese and English. The four works are: the comic book “Lini’s Grand Operation to Cook Her Own Food”; the movie “A Walk”; and two animated films, “I Need Father” and “A Walk on a Rainy Day.”

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However, the project has been on shaky ground almost since its inception. Hundreds of undocumented migrant workers, including those who had expressed a desire to participate in the project, were scattered during a government crackdown on illegal immigrants between August and December.

The project was ultimately completed by those immigrants who had married South Korean citizens, and thereby had legal permission to stay in the country.