Hanatour marks 20 years of 'Hope Travel' with tour for multicultural education graduates

Hanatour Service announced Monday that it had organized a "Hope Travel Project" for graduates of its "Multicultural Learning Instructor Training Program," a joint initiative with the Gyeonggi Global Center, a Ministry of Justice-designated support center for resident compatriots.

Multicultural learning instructors are specialists who support the academic development and social adjustment of children and teenagers with immigrant backgrounds. The training program, linked to the Ministry of Justice's resident compatriot support policy, was designed to convert participants' linguistic and cultural abilities into education employment and lay the groundwork for closing the learning gap among multicultural youth.

Hanatour Service supported the graduates' new start through its Hope Travel program, a corporate social responsibility initiative that uses travel to aid the emotional recovery and social connection of diverse members of society. Since its launch in 2005, the program has involved 393 organizations and 6,278 participants.

The graduates spent two days and one night from Thursday exploring historical and cultural sites across the Chungcheong region to deepen their understanding of Korean society and culture. They visited the Asan Onggi Fermented Food Exhibition and Experience Center, where they took part in traditional food activities including making gochujang. The trip also included time for participants to share reflections on their training with instructors and exchange information on future activities and job opportunities.

Until the program concludes, Hanatour Service plans to provide career counseling for graduates in partnership with the Gyeonggi Global Center and offer follow-up support linked to relevant educational settings to help participants secure employment.

In the spirit of the Hope Travel initiative, Hanatour Service is also running a "Good Travel Challenge" with the Seoul Metropolitan Government Volunteer Center through Sunday. Participants can join by uploading photos of eco-friendly or community-supporting travel on the Seoul Metropolitan Government Volunteer Center's Moa website.

"We hope this trip was a meaningful occasion to cheer on the graduates as they take their next steps," a Hanatour Service official said. "We will continue to pursue ESG management that puts the values of diversity and inclusion into practice."