VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian citizen community (WNI) in South Korea and the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul discussed the inauguration of the Indonesian Community Organization Communication Forum (Forkomasi) last weekend (02/1)  to accommodate many organizations and activities of Indonesian citizens in South Korea.  The information was conveyed by the Indonesian Embassy ( KBRI) Seoul through a written statement received by Antara News Agency in Jakarta on Sunday (03/1). The inauguration of the communication forum is one of the interfaith prayer agenda (Istighosah) held by the Indonesian citizen community in South Korea along with the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul.

The activity was attended by Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Indonesian Ambassador to South Korea, Umar Hadi,  representatives from 59 Indonesian mosques in South Korea, 21 Indonesian churches, 30 associations from many regions and other Indonesian citizens who live and work in South Korea. Through an official statement, the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul stated that the istighosah activity was closed with an interfaith workshop which discussed the inauguration of the Forkomasi.

This inauguration of Forkomasi along with the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul will protect the movement of the Indonesian people in South Korea, and work together to deal with some social difficulties of Indonesian citizens who stay in South Korea. Based on the data of the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, there were around 37,000 Indonesian citizens in South Korea in March 2020; they consist of migrant workers, ship crew, students/university students and international marriage partners.

Based on the data of  Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs  which refers to the records of the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul as of February 28, 2019, there were 28,167 Indonesian  migrant workers and 5,379 Indonesian crew members who stay in South Korea. From the same note, there are around 90 Indonesian community organizations in South Korea,namely the Indonesian Muslim Community (KMI)  which accomodates approximately 57 mosques and Musholla (prayer rooms), the Indonesian Church Association in Korea (PGIK)  which accomodates 18 churches, the Indonesian Community Center (ICC), 32 regional associations; Daegu Indonesian Community Communication Forum (FKMID), Pumita Busan, Ajoy Jeju, the Association of Indonesian Students in Korea (Perpika), the Indonesian Muslim Society in Korea (Imuska), UT Korea, PCI-NU PCI Muhammadiyah and other communities. Ambassador Umar Hadi stated that the Indonesian citizen community in South Korea has a solid and strong brotherhood bond. He also emphasized that solidarity among Indonesian citizens must be strengthened because  there will still be many challenges and difficulties to be faced in 2021.