Visit to the Good Samaritan House in Uijeongbu: Relationships That Begin with “Being Together” (Jiin)

I visited the Good Samaritan House in Uijeongbu on 10th Dec. The visit was connected to a documentary project, but what stayed with me was not the filming itself. It was a very practical lesson on how relationships with refugee and migrant women begin—and how they are sustained. The space is both a workplace and a community where migrant women live and work together. Even during a short visit, the conditions that make connection possible became very clear.

That day, everyone moved according to their roles. The filming team went to a separate room to record a personal story, while I sat at a shared work table with the women and joined their tasks. There was no formal introduction or explanation. The day began simply by sitting in the same space and doing the same work. That alone became the starting point of our relationship.

Conversation began with a familiar and simple question: “Where are you from?” For refugee and migrant women, this question is more than small talk. It opens up their life journey and the path that brought them to where they are now. A box of strawberries on the table led to stories about hometowns, and from there, to how each person came to Korea. The conversation was not about exchanging information, but about sharing lived experiences.

As the conversation continued, language became an issue we had to adjust to. Everyone had a different language background, and there was no single language that felt comfortable for all. We kept checking which language felt easiest in the moment and mixed languages as needed. Sentences often stopped halfway, and the pace of conversation slowed down. But that also meant we spent more time waiting for one another. When someone paused to find the right word, the conversation paused with them. No one language or speaker led the space; the rhythm followed the slowest person.

Through this process, the realities these women face in Korean society naturally came into view. Everyone agreed that learning Korean is important, but many shared how difficult it is to find time and energy for language learning while managing unstable work, household labor, and childcare. Language learning was not a matter of motivation, but of conditions. One woman spoke about the frustration and isolation she feels when communicating in English. Another explained that she does not have the emotional space to begin learning something new. Someone else shared that even within migrant communities, English-centered conversations can make her feel excluded. Many talked about how being unable to fully express emotions in their mother tongue deepens emotional isolation.

We also watched a short video together about language and dignity. In the video, a person being corrected on pronunciation explains that in their native language, they are intelligent and humorous. They describe how moments of hesitation—when searching for the right word—can cause their story to end before it is fully told. This scene resonated deeply with everyone. It clearly showed that language is not just a communication tool, but closely tied to identity and dignity.

What I learned from this visit is simple but important. Connection with refugee women does not begin with language skills or fluent expression. It begins with staying in the same space, doing things together, remaining present even when words fail, and choosing not to step away even when full understanding is not possible. “Being together” matters more than “speaking well,” and “staying beside someone” matters more than “understanding quickly.”

The day at the Good Samaritan House reminded me that relationship-building does not require special techniques or grand gestures. Language barriers still exist, but choosing to stay—rather than step back—creates the foundation for deeper understanding later on. Relationships with refugee women begin quietly, through shared time and simple presence.

의정부 착한사마리안의 집 방문기: "함께 있음"으로 시작되는 관계 (지인)