Hwaseong-based Migration Stories Project gives migrant workers a space to create and connect

Hwaseong-based Migration Stories Project gives migrant workers in Hyangnam a space to create, share experiences and connect through art and music. Founded by Korean artist Kim Yang-woo in 2020, the project brings together migrant communities and local residents under the slogan World is Our Home. It also works with the Yatri band, a five-member Nepali migrant group, and relies on government and community support to stay open.

The project is located near Balan Manse Market in Hyangnam, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.

Its activities include music, storytelling, photography, sound, video, community-based cultural programs, T-shirt making and silk screening.

Kim Yang-woo said the space is not particularly profitable and depends on support from the government and a local community center.

The Yatri band is made up mostly of Nepalese migrants and performs older Nepali cover songs while developing original material.

Rai Prakash said he came to Korea in 2016 and works at a sponge factory while learning drums at the project space.

Published Sep 24, 2026 5:40 am KST

Kim Yang-woo, back row second from left, poses with her Nepali bandmates in the Yatri band in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, July 26. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

HWASEONG, Gyeonggi Province — Hwaseong, a rapidly developing city southwest of Seoul, has become one of Korea’s major destinations for foreign residents, particularly migrant workers. In an area shaped by manufacturing industries and immigration, the everyday lives of migrant workers often remain largely ignored.

The Migration Stories Project, located near Balan Manse Market in Hyangnam, was launched in 2020 to change that reality by creating a space where migrants can share their experiences, memories, cultures and creativity in their own voices. The project brings together music, storytelling, photography, sound, video and community-based cultural activities to explore the lives of foreign migrants.

Korean artist Kim Yang-woo founded the project under the slogan “World is Our Home,” as an art initiative that brings together migrant communities and local residents through interviews, art, music and community activities. She began the project during the COVID-19 pandemic, when restrictions on movement forced her to stay close to her hometown and made her think more deeply about the meaning of migration and movement.

“I’m interested in commuting and moving,” she told The Korea Times. “I think Korean and migrant people are the same — the same movers. We are very similar, but we have different cultures and different languages, so we didn’t connect.”

That interest in movement goes back to her university years, when she traveled repeatedly between Seoul and her hometown. Over time, that experience of moving between places led her to notice another kind of movement happening around migrants arriving and building new lives in Hwaseong.

She is connected with some migrant communities in the area, particularly the Nepali community, as well as those of Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Philippine. "There are amazing migrant artists in the communities,” she said.

Thai residents of Korea participate in a street performance in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, Aug. 30. Courtesy of Natthawat Pata

Kim studied painting at university, but her artistic practice later moved toward time-based art, particularly video and performance. Sound gradually became an especially important element of her work.

“In video work, I’m very interested in music and sound because music and sound are more important than the visual things,” she said.

That interest in sound eventually led her toward music and community performance as well. She is involved with the Yatri band, where she plays drums, and her artistic activities have increasingly intersected with her work with migrant communities.

Kim Yang-woo poses at the Migration Stories Project workspace in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, July 26. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

At the Migration Stories Project space, she organizes creative activities for migrants that range from music studio and print experiments with various materials and printing techniques to small workshops involving handmade musical instruments and paintings. One of the project’s most active programs is T-shirt making using silk screening.

“Our project also collaborates with Korean artists. We occasionally invite others to work with the project, creating an opportunity for artistic collaboration between the community space and established artists,” she said.

For Kim, these activities are not simply about producing objects. They create opportunities for people from different backgrounds to spend time together, exchange ideas and develop relationships.

The space is not particularly profitable, but she remains committed to keeping it alive. She has relied on support from the government and local community center. Funding is not Kim’s only challenge. Communication across cultural differences can also be difficult.

“Sometimes we grow up in very different cultures; communication is difficult.”

Her vision is relatively simple and pragmatic: to build stronger relationships with migrant communities through art and music.

“I wish to make good relationships with migrant people," she said. "I hope to work not only with my Nepali artist friends but with more migrant communities in the area. My goal is to invite more people into the project and use artistic and musical activities as a common ground.”

One of the project’s core activities is led by the Yatri band, literally meaning one who journeys, a music group made up mostly of Nepalese migrants who met after coming to the unfamiliar land of Korea. The five-member band performs older Nepali cover songs while experimenting with original material and developing its own sound. Korea is home to a large Nepali migrant community, many of whom come primarily to work and earn money before eventually returning to Nepal.

Rai Prakash, a Nepalese migrant worker and member of the Yatri band, sits at the drums in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, July 26. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

For many Nepali migrant workers, life is shaped by long working hours, demanding factory jobs and the responsibility of earning a living far from home. But for Rai Prakash, life in Korea is also becoming a place to create, perform and preserve Nepali music.

Prakash, who came to Korea in 2016, works at a sponge factory. Like many migrant workers, his workweek can stretch from Monday to Saturday, leaving little time for personal pursuits. Yet despite the demands of his job, he has found a way to follow his passion for music.

“Sometimes it is very difficult to manage the time," he said. "We must work because money is a necessity, but ... your passion for what your heart tells you is also very important.”

He is currently learning the drums at the space and can also play guitar and flute. He has a particular connection to Nepal's traditional instruments, including the madal, a traditional double-headed hand drum.

“I want to make Nepali music from here; I want to make history. We are just making our music, our lyrics, our compositions,” he said, expressing gratitude to those who have encouraged their musical activities.

The band members see themselves as part of a broader network of the Nepali community in Korea. Community gatherings and cultural events provide opportunities for them to meet, practice and perform.

The group is preparing for upcoming events, including a performance scheduled for October, as well as Nepali cultural festivals later in the year.

Song Hyun-joong, director of the Hwaseong Community Support Center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, July 26. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

For Song Hyun-joong, director of the Hwaseong Community Support Center, migrant workers and other foreign residents are part of Korean society.

“They are part of our community. That distinction is important," he said. "A migrant may initially arrive in Korea as a worker, student or visitor, but over time their relationship with a particular neighborhood can become much deeper. They become familiar faces at local businesses, parents at schools, colleagues at workplaces and participants in community activities.”

He noted that some migrants have lived in their neighborhoods for many years. They work locally, raise children, form relationships and participate in community life. Korean residents increasingly know them not simply as “foreigners,” but as neighbors.

“Yet inclusion does not happen automatically," he said. "Language barriers, unfamiliarity, social isolation and differences in cultural expectations can create distance between residents.”

Song believes that community support, such as the Migration Stories project, can help bridge these gaps, whether through language assistance, social connections or programs that bring families together. In this sense, supporting migrants is not only about helping individuals adapt to Korean society. It can also mean strengthening the relationships within families and communities.

Visit migrationstoriesproject.net or follow @migrationstoriesproject on Instagram for more information.

Bereket Alemayehu is an Ethiopian photo artist, social activist and writer based in Seoul. He’s also the co-founder of Hanokers , a refugee-led social initiative, and a freelance contributor for Pressenza Press Agency.

位于华城的“移民故事项目”为香南道的移民工人提供了一个创作、分享经历并通过艺术和音乐建立联系的空间。该项目由韩国艺术家金阳宇于2020年创立，以“世界是我们的家”为口号，将移民群体和当地居民聚集在一起。项目还与由五名尼泊尔移民组成的乐队Yatri合作，并依靠政府和社区的支持维持运营。

该项目位于京畿道华城市香南郡巴兰万世市场附近。

其活动包括音乐、讲故事、摄影、声音、视频、社区文化项目、T恤制作和丝网印刷。

金阳宇表示，这个空间并不特别盈利，需要依靠政府和当地社区中心的支持。

Yatri 乐队主要由尼泊尔移民组成，他们演奏尼泊尔老歌翻唱曲目，同时也在创作原创作品。

Rai Prakash 说他于 2016 年来到韩国，在一家海绵厂工作，同时在项目空间学习打鼓。

发布于2026年9月24日 上午5:40（韩国标准时间）

7月26日，金阳宇（后排左二）与她的尼泊尔乐队Yatri的成员们在京畿道华城市合影。照片由Bereket Alemayehu提供。

京畿道华城市——华城位于首尔西南，是一座快速发展的城市，已成为韩国外国居民，特别是外来务工人员的主要目的地之一。在这个以制造业和移民为主导的地区，外来务工人员的日常生活往往被人们忽视。

位于香南市巴兰万世市场附近的“移民故事项目”于2020年启动，旨在改变移民的现状，为他们创造一个可以分享自身经历、记忆、文化和创造力的空间。该项目融合了音乐、故事讲述、摄影、声音、视频和社区文化活动，探索外籍移民的生活。

韩国艺术家金阳宇（Kim Yang-woo）以“世界是我们的家”为口号，创立了“世界是我们的家”项目。该项目旨在通过访谈、艺术、音乐和社区活动，将移民群体与当地居民联系起来。金阳宇在新冠疫情期间启动了该项目，当时出行限制迫使她留在故乡附近，也让她对移民和迁徙的意义有了更深入的思考。

“我对通勤和搬家很感兴趣，”她告诉《韩国时报》。“我认为韩国人和移民是一样的——都是流动人口。我们非常相似，但我们有着不同的文化和语言，所以我们之间缺乏联系。”

她对迁徙的兴趣可以追溯到大学时期，那时她频繁往返于首尔和家乡之间。随着时间的推移，这种在不同地方间穿梭的经历让她注意到另一种迁徙现象：移民涌入华城，在那里建立新的生活。

她与当地的一些移民社区保持着联系，特别是尼泊尔社区，以及来自泰国、斯里兰卡和菲律宾的社区。“这些社区里有很多优秀的移民艺术家，”她说。

8月30日，在韩国居住的泰国人在京畿道华城市参加街头表演。图片由Natthawat Pata提供。

金在大学学习绘画，但她的艺术实践后来转向了以时间为基础的艺术，特别是录像和行为艺术。声音逐渐成为她作品中一个尤为重要的元素。

“在视频创作中，我对音乐和声音非常感兴趣，因为音乐和声音比视觉效果更重要，”她说。

她对声音的兴趣最终也引导她走向了音乐和社区表演。她是Yatri乐队的成员，担任鼓手，她的艺术活动也越来越多地与她服务移民社区的工作交织在一起。

7月26日，金阳宇在京畿道华城市“移民故事项目”工作室摆姿势拍照。图片由Bereket Alemayehu提供。

在“移民故事项目”空间，她为移民组织各种创意活动，从音乐工作室和使用各种材料和印刷技术的版画实验，到涉及手工乐器和绘画的小型工作坊，应有尽有。该项目最活跃的项目之一是使用丝网印刷技术制作T恤。

“我们的项目也与韩国艺术家合作。我们偶尔会邀请其他艺术家参与项目，为社区空间和知名艺术家之间的艺术合作创造机会，”她说。

对金来说，这些活动不仅仅是制作物品。它们为来自不同背景的人们创造了共度时光、交流思想和建立关系的机会。

这个空间并不盈利，但她仍然坚持经营。她一直依靠政府和当地社区中心的支持。资金并非金面临的唯一挑战。跨文化沟通也并非易事。

“有时我们成长于截然不同的文化环境中；沟通会变得很困难。”

她的愿景相对简单而务实：通过艺术和音乐与移民社区建立更紧密的联系。

“我希望与移民群体建立良好的关系，”她说。“我不仅希望与我的尼泊尔艺术家朋友们合作，也希望与该地区更多的移民群体合作。我的目标是邀请更多的人参与到这个项目中来，并以艺术和音乐活动作为共同交流的平台。”

该项目的核心活动之一是由Yatri乐队领衔的。Yatri意为“旅人”，这支乐队主要由尼泊尔移民组成，他们来到陌生的韩国后相识。这支五人乐队演奏尼泊尔老歌，同时也在尝试创作原创作品，并逐渐形成自己的独特音乐风格。韩国拥有庞大的尼泊尔移民群体，他们中的许多人来到这里主要是为了工作赚钱，最终返回尼泊尔。

7月26日，尼泊尔移民工人、Yatri乐队成员Rai Prakash在京畿道华城市演奏鼓。照片由Bereket Alemayehu提供。

对许多尼泊尔务工人员来说，长时间的工作、繁重的工厂工作以及远离家乡谋生的重担构成了他们的生活。但对拉伊·普拉卡什而言，在韩国的生活也逐渐成为他创作、表演和传承尼泊尔音乐的地方。

普拉卡什于2016年来到韩国，在一家海绵厂工作。和许多外来务工人员一样，他每周的工作时间从周一一直持续到周六，几乎没有时间从事个人爱好。然而，尽管工作繁忙，他仍然找到了追求音乐梦想的方法。

“有时候很难安排好时间，”他说。“我们必须工作，因为金钱是必需品，但是……你对内心所想的热情也非常重要。”

他目前正在这里学习打鼓，还会弹吉他和吹笛子。他对尼泊尔的传统乐器，包括马达尔鼓（一种传统的双面手鼓），有着特殊的感情。

“我想在这里创作尼泊尔音乐；我想创造历史。我们只是在创作我们自己的音乐、歌词和曲子，”他说道，并对那些鼓励他们音乐活动的人们表示感谢。

乐队成员将自己视为韩国尼泊尔社群大家庭的一份子。社群聚会和文化活动为他们提供了相聚、排练和演出的机会。

该团体正在为即将到来的活动做准备，包括定于 10 月举行的一场演出，以及今年晚些时候的尼泊尔文化节。

7月26日，京畿道华城市立社区支援中心主任宋贤重（音译）。图片由Bereket Alemayehu提供。

华城社区支援中心主任宋贤重认为，外来务工人员和其他外国居民都是韩国社会的一部分。

“他们是我们社区的一份子。这一点很重要，”他说。“移民最初可能以工人、学生或游客的身份来到韩国，但随着时间的推移，他们与特定社区的关系会变得更加密切。他们会成为当地商家的熟面孔、学校的家长、工作场所的同事，以及社区活动的参与者。”

他指出，一些移民已经在他们居住的社区生活多年。他们在当地工作、养育子女、建立人际关系并参与社区生活。韩国居民越来越不再仅仅把他们视为“外国人”，而是把他们当作邻居。

“然而，包容并非自然而然就能实现，”他说道。“语言障碍、不熟悉、社会孤立以及文化期望的差异都可能在居民之间造成隔阂。”

宋认为，社区支持，例如“移民故事”项目，可以通过语言援助、社会联系或促进家庭团聚的项目来帮助弥合这些差距。从这个意义上讲，支持移民不仅仅是帮助个人适应韩国社会，也意味着加强家庭和社区内部的关系。

访问 migrationstoriesproject.net 或在 Instagram 上关注 @migrationstoriesproject 获取更多信息。

Bereket Alemayehu是一位居住在首尔的埃塞俄比亚摄影艺术家、社会活动家和作家。他也是难民主导的社会倡议组织Hanokers的联合创始人，以及Pressenza新闻社的自由撰稿人。