Asan City, Korea, is making measurable progress since joining the Council of Europe’s Intercultural Cities Programme in 2024. The Intercultural Profile for Asan, published today, underlines that the city has moved beyond supporting multicultural families, implementing structured and budgeted strategies that also address the needs of single migrant workers and long-term foreign residents. With a rapidly diversifying population, Asan stands out for its targeted education initiatives, active cultural programming, and participatory systems that foster interaction and dialogue across communities.
This momentum was underscored during the Council of Europe's expert visit in September 2025, which included meetings with the vice mayor, city council members, and key officials, as well as field visits to the Asan City Family Centre, schools, and migrant support agencies. These direct interactions provided valuable insight into local priorities and challenges, and informed the recommendations reflected in the city’s intercultural profile report.
The report highlights the city’s commitment and recommends broadening its policy focus, embedding intercultural principles into all departments, strengthening intercultural skills among officials and educators, and encouraging ongoing engagement through schools and public spaces. Increasing visibility of intercultural policies—especially online—will help reach and empower more residents.
Asan’s ongoing efforts provide a strong foundation for deeper inclusion and cohesion, with ongoing participation in the ICC Programme supporting its long-term strategic direction.
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