Identifying and Overcoming Barriers to Community Engagement Among Foreign Residents : A Case Study of a Community Learning Program for International Students in Anam-dong, Seoul

초록

This study analyzes the factors that limit foreign residents’ participation in local community activities—such as consumption, production, and relationship-building—and explores whether these constraints can be alleviated through an educational program designed by leveraging university human resources. Specifically, the program was planned and implemented as part of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s university-linked local revitalization project, the Korea University Anam Campustown Academy. Surveys and interviews were conducted with international students who participated in the program to assess pre- and post-program changes. The analysis found that after completing the program, participants perceived it as helpful in overcoming barriers to community participation identified in the preliminary survey—namely, lack of information, limited empowerment, and challenges in relationship-building. They also reported an increase in local consumption, production, and social interactions. Awareness of the university-linked community engage ment project itself and its perceived positive impacts on the neighbourhood both improved. Furthermore, a Mann–Whitney test showed that post-program response averages were statistically significantly higher than pre-program responses. The significance of this study lies in its in-depth identification of the needs of foreign residents—who have often been excluded from community activation efforts and benefits—regarding local cultural content. It also demonstrates, through both quantitative and qualitative methods, that community- based educational programs linking university resources can enhance not only the participation of foreign residents but also the vitality of local commercial and cultural life.

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