What Seoul Global Center does

Seoul Global Center is a public initiative operated by Seoul Metropolitan Government that provides multilingual, comprehensive support services to foreign residents, students, and entrepreneurs in Seoul. Founded in 2003 (per website copyright) and re-established in its current form in 2008, the entity operates the Seoul Foreigner Portal (global.seoul.go.kr) as its digital front door and orchestrates a physical network spanning the Seoul Foreign Resident Center (headquarters in Yeongdeungpo-gu), seven Global Village Centers across districts including Gangnam, Itaewon, and Yeonnam, six district Foreign Resident Centers, the Seoul Counseling Center for Migrant Women, the Seoul Global Youth Education Center, and the Seoul Global Student Center.

The entity's core products include OASIS 2.0, a visa-linked immigrant entrepreneur program operated jointly with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups that has produced 529 graduates, 27 active enterprises, and 21 incorporated entities since July 2023; the MeSic medical interpretation matching service covering 10+ languages with up to four free hospital accompaniments per person annually; free psychological counseling (five sessions per person); one-on-one career counseling via Google Meet for international students in Korean, English, and Chinese; the Foreign Human Rights Leader program coordinated with the Ministry of Employment and Labor; and cultural events such as the MAMF Migrant Song Festival and the Seoul Study Abroad Fair. Underlying technology is a multilingual web portal with Google Translate integration and program-specific workflows such as Google Meet-based counseling and Google Forms-based applications; the entity does not develop proprietary AI/ML.

The business model is wholly government-funded: all services are provided free of charge to eligible foreign residents, with no pricing tiers, fees, or commercial revenue streams. The entity is a wholly owned initiative of Seoul Metropolitan Government, and key partnerships are inter-ministerial (Ministry of Justice, Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Ministry of Employment and Labor, Immigration and Foreign Policy Headquarters) rather than commercial. Its GTM is hybrid: event-driven for the OASIS entrepreneur program and community-led for student and resident services, distributed through both the portal platform and the multi-center physical network.

Name

Seoul Global Center

Legal name

Seoul Metropolitan Government

Website

https://global.seoul.go.kr

Company type

Public

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Seoul Global Center is a Seoul Metropolitan Government initiative that delivers free multilingual support services, including counseling, medical interpretation, career guidance, and immigrant entrepreneurship programs, to foreign residents, students, and entrepreneurs in Seoul through a multi-center network and the Seoul Foreigner Portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Immigration Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

International Student Advising & Resource Centers (Wraparound Support) (EDAIAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Student Academic & Personal Support (case management, referrals) (EDALANAE), Student Wellbeing & Counseling for International Students (Non-Clinical Support) (EDAIAKAF), Multilingual & Global Shared-Service Contact Centers (BPAAAAAL)

Keywords

• Immigrant support services
• Foreign resident services
• Multilingual counseling
• Medical interpretation services
• Immigrant entrepreneur programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Government-funded initiative operated by Seoul Metropolitan Government to support foreign residents and immigrant entrepreneurs as part of the city's internationalization strategy

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Seoul Global Center is a government-operated support initiative that delivers free, multilingual services to Seoul's foreign residents through the Seoul Foreigner Portal and a network of physical centers. Its core offerings include the OASIS 2.0 immigrant entrepreneur program, one-on-one career counseling for international students, free psychological counseling, the MeSic medical interpretation matching service, cultural exchange programs at Global Village Centers, and human rights advocacy support for foreign workers. All programs are provided free of charge as publicly funded services under the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Product overview

Seoul Global Center operates the Seoul Foreigner Portal (서울외국인포털) as its primary digital platform, supported by a network of specialized sub-centers including Seoul Foreign Resident Center, Global Village Centers, Seoul Global Student Center, and Seoul Global Youth Education Center. The organization provides a comprehensive ecosystem of programs including the OASIS 2.0 immigrant entrepreneur initiative, free psychological and career counseling services, MeSic medical interpretation support, annual events like the MAMF Migrant Song Festival and Seoul Study Abroad Fair, volunteer programs, and cultural diversity initiatives. The Seoul Foreigner Portal serves as the central information hub offering multilingual support through Google Translate, with services spanning immigration assistance, education, culture, employment, and community integration for Seoul's foreign residents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OASIS: OASIS (Overseas-Academic Startup Incubation System) 2.0 is an immigrant entrepreneur initiative providing specialized courses, mentoring, and startup support for foreign tech entrepreneurs in Seoul.
• OASIS 2.0
• MeSic (Medical Seoul Interpreter Community)
• Seoul Global Student Center

Products and services

• Seoul Foreigner Portal (서울외국인포털) Comprehensive online portal serving as Seoul's primary digital interface for foreign residents, providing information on consultation services, education, cultural programs, center locations, and multilingual support via Google Translate integration.
• OASIS 2.0 Immigrant Entrepreneur Initiative Visa-linked startup support program for foreign entrepreneurs in AI, platforms, and healthcare sectors, providing eight specialized courses, alumni mentoring, business incorporation assistance, and investor connections.
• Seoul Global Student Center Free Career Counseling Free one-on-one online career counseling program for international students in Seoul, covering Korean-style resume preparation, job-hunting strategies, and visa concerns.
• Free Psychological Counseling Program Free 1:1 psychological counseling for adult foreign residents in Seoul, offering a basic 5-session support package in Korean, English, and Chinese.
• MeSic Medical Interpretation Support (서울시 동행 의료통역지원단) Medical interpretation support service providing free hospital accompaniment and interpretation for foreign residents in Seoul, supporting 10 languages including English, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Thai, Russian, Mongolian, Arabic, and French. Up to 4 free interpretations per person annually, with priority for serious illness, tests, surgery, and hospitalization cases.
• MAMF Korea Migrant Song Festival Annual multicultural singing competition for foreign residents and migrants in Korea, featuring preliminary rounds, finals, and a championship stage with prize money from 5,000,000 KRW (Grand Prize) to 500,000 KRW (Participant Prize).
• Foreign Human Rights Leader Program (외국인 인권리더) Program recruiting 50 foreign human rights leaders across 10 regional labor offices nationwide to identify cases of unfair treatment and discrimination, participate in regular meetings, and provide rights advocacy support for foreign workers.
• Foreign Student Volunteer Corps (외국인 유학생 자원봉사단) Volunteer program for international students enrolled in Seoul universities, offering volunteer activity recognition through the 1365 volunteer portal and a certificate upon completing 2 or more activities, with indoor-focused programs for summer.

Quantifiable outcome

• 529 prospective entrepreneurs supported since July 2023, with 27 active enterprises and 21 newly incorporated entities established through the OASIS program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Ministry of Employment and Labor (고용노동부)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Coordinates Foreign Human Rights Leader recruitment program to protect foreign worker rights, identify workplace violations, and provide advocacy support through 50 trained leaders nationwide.
• Seoul Metropolitan GovernmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Parent organization providing funding and policy direction for all Seoul Global Center programs including OASIS startup initiative, foreign student support, and resident services.
• Ministry of Justice (법무부)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Joint initiative partner for OASIS immigrant entrepreneur program, providing visa-linked support and policy coordination for foreign startups. Ministry also implements the Overseas Korean (F-4) integrated visa policy effective February 2026.
• Ministry of SMEs and Startups (중소벤처기업부)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Joint initiative partner for OASIS program providing startup support, business development resources, and SME ecosystem connection for foreign entrepreneurs in Seoul.
• Immigration and Foreign Policy Headquarters (출입국·외국인정책본부)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for visa policy information distribution and overseas Korean policy implementation through the Seoul Foreigner Portal.
• HI KOREA (하이코리아)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOfficial government visa and immigration service portal partner providing information about F-4 visa consolidation and other immigration services.
• Seoul National University Hospital, Yonsei Health System, Asan Medical Center, Samsung Medical CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor hospital partners providing healthcare access for foreign residents using MeSic medical interpretation services, with priority support for critical illness, tests, surgery, and hospitalization cases.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Study in Korea (National Institute for International Education): Korean government online portal operated by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) providing international student recruitment, scholarship information, and Korean study abroad services. Complementary rather than competing — supports the inbound market that Seoul Global Center's study-abroad fairs serve.

Regional players

• Berlin Senate Department for Integration: Berlin's state-level government department administering integration, education, and participation programs for migrants and refugees. Comparable as a European counterpart government integration-services body with similar service-design patterns to Seoul Global Center.
• Toronto Newcomer Services / Toronto Newcomer Office: City of Toronto municipal office coordinating settlement, language, employment, and integration services for newcomers across physical and digital channels. Comparable as a foreign-resident service hub model in a major global city, though operating in the Canadian context rather than Korea.

Direct peers

• Hi Korea (Immigration & Foreign Policy HQ portal): Official Korean government visa and immigration service portal operated by the Immigration & Foreign Policy Headquarters. Functions as Seoul Global Center's immigration-policy partner for F-4 visa consolidation and visa information distribution.
• NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs: New York City's municipal government office providing one-stop services, legal support, and integration programs for immigrant residents. Directly comparable as a city-government immigrant support hub with multilingual service delivery across multiple physical centers.
• Korea Immigration Service Foundation (KISF): South Korean government-affiliated foundation providing social integration programs, Korean language education, and settlement support for immigrants and marriage migrants in Korea. Operates as the national-level equivalent of Seoul Global Center's foreigner-support services.

Emerging players

• Singapore Centre for Strategic Futures (International Student Services): Singapore government programs offering international student support and foreign talent integration through SkillsFuture and related frameworks. Comparable as an Asia-Pacific city-state government operating multi-ministry integration support for students and foreign workers.

Broad incumbents

• Welcoming America: US-based nonprofit network supporting immigrant integration at the municipal level through the Welcoming City certification and integration program frameworks. Comparable as a broader umbrella organization promoting standardized integration services across multiple city governments, similar to Seoul Global Center's role with district-level centers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubekorean.visitseoul.net/index
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/seoul-metropolitan-government
• Facebookfacebook.com/seoulglobalcenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Seoul Global Center