Justice Minister Hwang Kyu-ahn vowed on Monday to step up efforts to eradicate domestic violence against marriage immigrants and their children.

He outlined policies to better protect immigrants from bias, discrimination and violence in the sixth Together Day ceremony aimed at promoting multiculturalism.

“We will make this year as the beginning year of preventing domestic violence against marriage immigrants in order to protect marriage immigrants and their children from bias and violence, and to help them to settle in our society,” said Hwang said in his speech.

The Justice Ministry said it has drawn up plans to establish a special task force and criminal procedures to handle violence against immigrant spouses.

The ministry will provide an educational program regarding home violence to Korean citizens who plan to marry foreigners.

By Monica Suk (monicasuk@heraldcorp.com)