Have you ever felt frustrated by using a “foreigner-friendly service” that didn’t meet YOUR personal needs, even though you are a foreigner? Let’s talk about the issues around the term “foreigner” and how it may negatively impact programs designed to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in South Korea. From One Foreigner to Another First of all, I want to clearly state that I am a foreigner in Korea who has lived in Korea since 2011. I have volunteered to help design information and programming for foreign integration into rural Korea since 2015. Although I take no issue with being referred to as a “foreigner”, the term causes many issues within our wider society that may negatively impact society and integration. The following post represents my lived experience with the invisible impact of the term ‘foreigner’ on individuals and program planning. Let’s get into it. Let’s Talk About the “Foreigner” in the Room In South Korea, the term “foreigner” (외국인) is widely used in media, casual conversation, and official discourse. Despite its frequent use, the meaning and implications of the term are often misunderstood. The term carries legal, social, and cultural connotations that affect how individuals are perceived and treated within Korean society. This article explores the complexities behind the term “foreigner,” how it impacts policy and social integration, and why more precise language is essential for fostering inclusivity. The Scope and Complexity of “Foreigner” Although people labeled as “foreigners” in South Korea lead vastly different lives, they are often grouped under a single identity. This oversimplification ignores the diverse experiences, contributions, and challenges faced by different groups. As a result, public policies and services targeted at “foreigners” often fail to meet the specific needs of distinct populations. Understand we, as foreigners, are complicit in the overuse of the term ‘foreigner.’ Therefore, take a moment to analyze our own biases as we consider the information presented in this post. This is something I like to do regularly. Reflection Activity Take a moment to reflect on how you define the term “foreigner.” When you hear the word, what kind of person do you imagine? Understanding how personal assumptions shape the meaning of “foreigner” is essential for recognizing the limitations of the term in real-world contexts. Now we are ready to tackle the larger conversation. Legal and Social Definitions of “Foreigner” For those living in South Korea, the term “foreigner” has distinct legal, social, and cultural meanings, which may overlap in daily life and cause confusion. Recognizing these differences is key to understanding the complexities faced by international residents and multicultural families in South Korea. Legal Definition Under South Korean law, a “foreigner” is defined as anyone who does not hold South Korean citizenship. According to the Nationality Act (국적법), even individuals born in Korea or those who have lived in Korea for decades remain legally classified as foreigners unless they acquire South Korean citizenship through naturalization. For example: Social and Cultural Perceptions In everyday conversation, the term oegugin (외국인) often carries social and cultural implications beyond legal status. Examples include: These examples highlight how social definitions of “foreigner” are shaped by ethnic and cultural markers rather than legal status. How AI Defines “Foreigner” in Korea To understand how the term “foreigner” is interpreted in digital spaces, let’s examine how artificial intelligence defines the term. Google AI Definition Google AI defines a “foreigner” in Korea as: “Any person who does not possess the nationality of the Republic of Korea and who is legally staying in the country.” While legally accurate, this definition overlooks key social and cultural dimensions, including: ChatGPT Definition ChatGPT provides a more detailed definition, recognizing different categories of foreigners in Korea: While more nuanced than Google’s definition, ChatGPT’s definition still fails to account for: How the Term “Foreigner” Shapes Policy and Society Now that we better understand some of the legal, social, and cultural meanings of the term “foreigner” let’s explore how they impact diversity, equity, and inclusion programming in South Korea. Oversimplifying Diverse Populations The term “foreigner” lumps together individuals with vastly different legal statuses and cultural backgrounds. For example: This generalization leads to ineffective policies and programs. For instance, programs designed for tourists may not meet the needs of long-term residents or naturalized citizens. However, promotion and marketing for such programs imply they meet the needs of the entire “foreign” population. Additionally, such a program may only offer English support when the majority of the “foreigner” population in Korea doesn’t speak English. Reinforcing the “Outsider” Narrative The term “foreigner” reinforces a sense of exclusion, even for individuals deeply integrated into Korean society. This outsider narrative fosters a sense of alienation and limits social cohesion. Ignoring Intersectional Identities Korea’s growing multicultural population includes complex identities that are not fully captured by the term “foreigner.” Failing to account for these categories creates gaps in representation and services. Impact on Government Programs and Services Policies targeted at “foreigners” often overlook the diverse needs of this population. Limiting Research and Data Collection Government and community organizations struggle to collect accurate data on international residents because of inconsistent definitions of “foreigner.” Toward More Precise and Inclusive Language Ideally, foreigners across South Korea take a leadership role in the community and lead the English language version of this conversation. Therefore, a few years ago, I decided to be the change I want to see in the world. At South of Seoul, I established an initiative to move away from the term “foreigner” when possible in favor of more precise language, such as: This shift has improved communication and fostered a greater sense of belonging within the community. Recognizing the complexity of identity helps create more effective policies and programs. Lanae Rivers-Woods, MAITLanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert. Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities. Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea. Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea. When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains. www.southofseoul.net

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Do you like to win things? Do you live around Pyeongtaek? You will love the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Fab 4 Rewards program. You can get Fab 4 rewards from local businesses just for being an active part of the Food & Fun community. Let’s learn more about this program and how to win! About Pyeongtaek Food & Fun South of Seoul (SOS) volunteers support the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook community which provides information and support for the international population of Pyeongtaek and surrounding areas. The SOS volunteers work around the clock to curate a safe and supportive environment. In doing so, they seek to allow many voices to be heard. South of Seoul volunteers admin and moderate their Facebook groups based on the values of equity, inclusion, anti-bullying, and non-violent communication. That said, the Food & Fun group members are at the core of the group’s community values. Such group member posts related to restaurants, hobbies, events, gatherings, and more create an environment of support. Additionally, it takes the contributions of the entire community to build a beautiful life. Therefore, volunteers wanted to find a way to acknowledge the hard work everyone puts into supporting each based on community values. Why did South of Seoul create the ‘Fab 4 Rewards’ program? The Pyeongtaek international community relies heavily on personal recommendations. Also, the international community regularly changes. This means that businesses and community members rely on informed community members to share information. South of Seoul volunteers want to reward such knowledge sharing by informed community members and reward their commitment to the Pyeongtaek community. Who are the ‘Fab 4’? In 2022, South of Seoul began with a program called the ‘Food & Fun Fab 4 Rewards’. The program recognized 4 active Pyeongtaek Food & Fun community members for their contributions to the community. Each of the 4 winners of the ‘Fab 4’ can visit businesses around Pyeongtaek and neighboring communities to collect “Fab 4 Rewards”. In total, South of Seoul currently has 20 local businesses that will be offering rewards to the winners. What Does A Winning Post Look Like? Winners for the Fab 4 Rewards are chosen based on such things as 1) the quality and reach of shared information (photos, location details included, information included, etc), 2) the number of posts and community contributed during the month, 3) comments and community engagement, and 4) general community awesomeness and support. Who is Eligible By making a post in the group, active members of the Pyeongtaek Food and Fun Facebook are automatically entered into the running to win Fab 4 Rewards. Therefore, there are no additional signups or registration required. South of Seoul volunteers are not eligible for Food & Fun Fab 4 Rewards. Considering that volunteers work 7 days as week 365 days a year to support this Food & Fun group, this rule may seem strange. However, due to the number of South of Seoul volunteers and their level of contribution, volunteers would win all of the awards each month. And then the awards wouldn’t support the community in they way they are intended. How Often Can A Member Win? Group members are eligible to win Fab 4 Rewards once a quarter. So, this means that group members who contribute a great deal to the Food & Fun group could win rewards up to 4 times a year! So basically, just by participating in the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Group, you are in the running to become one of the Fab 4 chosen each month.  In short, share things you love and win awesome rewards. How Can You Create Winning Posts? Facebook provides the group statistics on the posts with information on engagement, reactions, number of comments, etc. When looking at the statistics of Fab 4 Rewards winning posts, we noticed that posts with more engagement and reaction have the following things in common: Share Your Voice and Opinions in the Community Even if a place has already been shared, we invite you to share it again. We each have our own unique valuable opinions, tastes, and experiences. This gives our community a wide range of voices and lenses to make informed decisions. One of the best things about our Pyeongtaek Food and Fun community is that the members share what they love, allowing others to experience things from different lenses. Even if your opinion of a location differs from others, adding your voice to the community may help someone with the same tastes understand a flavor profile or experience so they can make informed choices. How Do We Announce Winners of Fab 4? On the first of each month, we announce the winners of the Fab 4 in the Pyeongtaek Food and Fun group. In addition, we also have a blog post including the graphic with the winners’ information. The following graphics represent Community Group Fab4 Announcements: What To Do If You Win Fab 4 Rewards? If you win the Fab 4, you will be tagged in the community post and have until the end of the month to receive your rewards. However, we do not message winners individually. So, check the post on the first of each month to see if you won! As a Fab 4 winner, you can collect a reward from every business listed. (For businesses with two locations, you may collect from only one site). Currently, we have 20 businesses partnering with us to provide rewards. So, you have 20 rewards to collect during the month. You don’t have to collect from everyone, just from the spots that you feel excited to try. For most Fab 4 rewards, you can arrive at the business and show them your Facebook profile and let them know you are there to collect your reward. However, for some rewards, we may require more information to provide your reward (like an email address). We will let you know how to provide the information in these instances. Join Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Do you live in Pyeongtaek or the surrounding areas of Cheonan, Asan, Anseong, Dangjin, Hwaseong, or Yongin? Then, we welcome you to join the group and share your Food & Fun ideas for these areas! Sharing in the group enters you to win the Fab 4 Rewards! Interested in Contributing to the Fab 4 Rewards? Are you a business interested in contributing to the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Fab 4 Rewards program? Then, read more here or get signed up right away Click to Contribute to the Food & Fun Fab 4 Rewards You can signup and let us know what you would like to offer as rewards to the four Fab 4 winners each month. In addition, your rewards can change monthly. South of Seoul will review each business reward offer to ensure it meets organizational guidelines. KimchiRednecksAbout Melissa Edwards-Whittington & Chuck Whittington (KimchiRednecks) Chuck and Melissa—also known as the KimchiRednecks—have been living in Korea since 2017 and documenting their life abroad since launching their YouTube channel in 2018. Originally created to share their adventures with friends and family back in the U.S., KimchiRednecks has since grown into a vibrant and dynamic platform that reflects their love for Korean culture, food, travel, and everyday life. From foodie explorations and recipe experiments to gaming, tech, and car projects (especially the BRZ), their content offers a fun and honest window into expat life. Chuck Whittington is a graduate of Francis Marion University with a degree in Information Systems Management. With over two decades of experience in IT, Chuck combines his technical expertise with a long-standing fascination with Korea—having visited many times before moving permanently. He’s the tech-savvy side of KimchiRednecks and brings a love for innovation, gaming, and cars to the channel. Melissa Edwards-Whittington holds a degree in Bible with a minor in Elementary Education from Mid-Atlantic Christian University. She has worn many hats over the years—working in customer service, marketing, and now also serving as a volunteer Co-Editor and Social Media Marketing Manager for United on the RoK Magazine. Her writing and digital work focus on building community and supporting military-connected and expatriate populations in Korea. Melissa also volunteers with South of Seoul, where she helps manage online social media groups, supports local language exchanges, and creates original content to assist newcomers and long-term residents alike. Together, Chuck and Melissa share their lives with their three beloved Shih Tzu daughters—Minion, Sookie (forever in their hearts), and Mayhem—who are frequently featured in their videos and social media posts. Whether they’re sipping coffee at a neighborhood café, exploring hidden corners of Korea, or experimenting with homemade whiskey and brandy on their second channel, Shining with KimchiRednecks, Chuck and Melissa are passionate about sharing the real and ever-evolving journey of life abroad. One of their greatest joys is cooking, and they frequently document their culinary adventures—especially their experiences learning to prepare Korean dishes and other global cuisines—on their YouTube channel, inviting others to celebrate food, culture, and connection alongside them. Follow Chuck, Melissa & the KimchiRednecks Adventures: YouTube: @kimchirednecks YouTube: @shiningwithkimchirednecks Instagram: @kimchirednecks Facebook: KimchiRednecks United on the RoK Magazine: www.unitedontherokmag.com

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Make content creation easier with a content creation framework. The South of Seoul volunteer team makes blogging easier and more targeted by following the South of Seoul Content Creation Framework (SOS CC Framework) created by founder Lanae Rivers-Woods. Such a framework provides a logical step-by-step process for developing quality sustainable content quickly. If you don’t care about content creation (which is normal and fine) feel free to jump to more fun blogs on our homepage. South of Seoul Content Creation Framework Rivers-Woods designed the SOS CC Framework to make it easier for solo content creators to design meaningful and sustainable social and blog content for multi-national communities. The SOS CC Framework empowers volunteers/creators to succinctly meet the needs of 1) communities, 2) the readers, 3) the volunteer/content creators, and 4) SEO for the purpose of creating sustainable content that matters over time. Keep in mind, the SOS CC Framework exists as an iterative process. Iterative means that our volunteers constantly review old blogs and new content using the SOS CC Framework in order to improve what we create now and improve what we created in the past. Such processes and improvements never end since new volunteers and new research always bring new insight and new opportunities. About the SOS CC Framework SOS CC Framework consolidates research from many specialties such as Marketing, Curriculum Design, Project Management, SEO, User Research, UX/UI, etc into a simplified framework/system. Such a framework allows solo creators and small volunteer teams to minimize the negative personal impact (financial, emotional, etc) of content creation while also maximizing the impact of content on the wider community. Creating effective content that doesn’t drain volunteers of their time and joy exists as an SOS foundational principle. Since creators outside of the SOS organization may also struggle with finding efficient ways to create content, SOS Volunteers thought we would share our process with the public. South of Seoul volunteers seek to empower creators around the world to create meaningful content for their multi-national communities. The more information that exists from different perspectives the more people feel supported. Let’s look at the framework. The Four Factors of Sustainable Content The SOS CC Framework consists of four factors listed in order of process: Community Value Reader Experience Volunteer Resources Search Engine Optimization (SEO) South of Seoul volunteers consider such factors in a specific order for the purpose of limiting content creation development time and ensuring the content holds value. Such an order goes against many common practices within content creation which often begins with SEO. Since the South of Seoul program exists as an educational platform with a cultural curriculum at the core of all processes, SEO does not lead our content development. Instead, we use SEO to enhance and amplify information necessary for the success of our community members. In short, SOS focuses on leading with the new and necessary information rather than re-hashing the past information. Now, let us look at each of the four factors in the SOS CC Framework individually. About Community Value in Content Creation Before South of Seoul (SOS) volunteers create content they first ask, “What value can we add to this topic?” Volunteers ask such questions as: Does our proposed content add to the general knowledge on the topic? Does our proposed content frame the content through a new lens? Does our proposed content honor past content created on the topic? Does our proposed content offer something necessary or desired? If the answer to the questions is, “Nothing added” then we can make that content a link to someone else. We can choose to support another creator who has done an amazing job and put out the fantastic effort. Honoring others’ work remains as important as doing our own. If the information could simply be a link, then our volunteers can move on to creating content from a different lens. However, if the answer is, “Yes, the proposed content meets a community need then we move to the next step in the development and question-asking process which is Reader Experience. About Reader Experience In Content Creation Reader Experience can also be called the UX/UI standards. Such standards take into consideration readers’ social lenses which may include unique considerations for a multi-national population: Cultural diversity (In an international context, different cultural lens may create different views of the same topic) Visa diversity (In an international contect different visa restrictions may create different knowledge foundations) Language diversity (Readers may speak English as a first, second, or third language) Linguistic diversity (Readers who speak English as a first language may use English differently based on region) Neuro diversity (Readers may need different levels of information scaffolding based on how they process new knowledge) Social diversity (Readers social experiences may vary based on many factors so social understanding can not be assumed) Educational diversity (Readers may come from varying educational levels and backgrounds) Identity diversity (Readers may experience different perceptions of gender, race, culture, and language) Our volunteers review content and ask themselves, “How might this content be experienced through these different lenses which form a human experience?” We then work to mold our information in new ways to include more and more readers in the conversation. Such questions related to cultural lenses require volunteers to acknowledge their own privilege and bias and work to view other experiences through an empathic process. At South of Seoul, we specifically employ empathy processing tools used in the Social Work field and UX design field. The empathetic Reader Experience design exists as an iterative process. Volunteers continually review, update, and refine content based on field research which includes interviews, surveys, and A/B testing. About Volunteer Resources and Content Creation After volunteers identify necessary and reader needs regarding the content, volunteers assess solutions and our ability to implement such solutions based on our resources. In order to choose the best solutions for meeting readers’ needs volunteers consider such resources considerations may include: Volunteer time (How much volunteer time will the solution require?) Financial cost (What no-cost options exist?) Maintenance implications (How will the informtion be kept current?) In order to create sustainable solutions, South of Seoul (SOS) Volunteers need a solution that takes limited volunteer time, little to no financial cost, and can maintain itself over time without costing additional volunteer time or monetary cost. We do not have funding and our volunteers all have family and job commitments. Many solo creators also find themselves in similar situations. Assessing volunteer resources exists as one of the most important aspects of the content creation design process. Questions that volunteers/creators need to ask themselves include: How long will it take to create this content? Do we have that time available? How long will this content be valid for? If it changes, how will it be updated? Does this content solution cost money to maintain? What outside content does this article rely on and who maintains the accuracy of that content? (consider this when choosing outgoing links) What happens to this conent when I leave and can’t maintain it? Will it cause others issues? How can I make my content stand the test of time or ensure it’s maintained over time? We want to ask the hard questions about content sustainability so that our content doesn’t cause a stumbling stone for those who move to our multi-national community in the future. About Search Engine Optimization Once we have assessed the Community Value, Reader Experience, and Volunteer Resources we move on to Search Engine Optimization. In order to empower readers to find SOS Content, volunteers must find creative ways to rectify how the language needed to communicate with algorithms may impact Community Needs, Reader Experiences, and Volunteer Resources. Poorly scaffolded and framed SEO techniques may cause friction and conflict in multi-national communities in a variety of ways. Therefore, SOS volunteers strive to take social responsibility for considering how our SEO choices impact perceptions of cultures and communities. Such social responsibility exists as an iterative process as we listen to the community and conduct research. For example, Google loves the term ‘best’ since people often choose to search things such as “best restaurants” or “best cafes”. However, the term ‘best’ remains subjective to a personal lens formed on many social/cultural factors. Many content creators may title their information the ‘best’ to ensure that others can find the information on Google. Such a practice feels acceptable since common SEO practices include basing blogs on common keyword searches. However, the reader’s perception of ‘best’ may differ from a content creator’s view of ‘best’. Such differences in what ‘best’ means may cause readers to view content creators as ‘deceptive’. For example, readers may assume ‘best’ implies something voted on or judged for authenticity. Thus, when content creators ‘best’ lists without explicitly stating what ‘best’ means (‘best known’ or ‘best-reviewed on TripAdvisor’) content may impact the community in unexpected ways. Thus, SOS volunteers use the SOS CC Framework to take into consideration the many implications of SEO Keyword choices. This also speaks to why SEO decisions occur as the final step to our internally designed sustainable content creation framework instead of the first step as often promoted in SEO strategies that only consider online traffic implications. Sustainable Content Creation After analyzing the four factors for creating content, our volunteers compile and create the content for distribution. Once the SOS content has been released into the wild, SOS volunteers iteratively review the content with readers to see how what changes still need to happen. The SOS CC Framework keeps us always asking questions and always moving toward better content. Definitions of Terms Two definitions that may be necessary for fully embracing this blog may include: Framework: A framework consists of concepts, together with their definitions, and existing theory/theories. Lens: A lens is a way of looking at the world. Factors that may contribute to a social lens may include such things as culture, country, economic background, gender identity, religion, education, etc. Individual lenses dictate how each person processes and interprets information and experiences. Let us know if any part of this framework and corresponding explanations feel unclear. We want our readers to feel fully informed regarding how we create and maintain our information over time. South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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