By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
The Seoul metropolitan government Friday designated six ``Global Villages'' to provide various tailor-made services to foreigners living in the capital.
The villages are "Americatowns" in Itaewon-dong, Hannam-dong and Yeoksam-dong; a Chinatown in Yeonnam-dong; a "Francetown" in Seocho-dong; and "Japantown" in Ichon-dong.
It's the first time for the local government to designate specific places for expatriates.
In each village, a foreigner-only community hall will be established and a selected foreigner will represent the community.
Most administrative documents, such as tax notices and public announcements, will be translated into several foreign languages for their convenience.
Public officers speaking foreign languages fluently will be dispatched to provide support on daily issues.
Specialized childcare programs for foreign workers will be available, together with bilingually staffed medical services.
Signboards in the districts will be written in foreign languages.
These are part of the local government's efforts to transform Seoul into a ``foreign-friendly'' city.
``Language barriers and a lack of information are major impediments that most foreigners here face while going about their daily lives,'' a Seoul City official said. ``We predict this program will largely solve these difficulties.''
The Seoul government also announced four locations in which foreign-invested companies are mostly located as ``Global Business Zones," namely Gwanghwamun (in central Seoul); Yeouido, Samseong-dong; and Yeoksam-dong.
All complaints lodged by foreign businesses in the zones will be handled by Seoul Global Center, which opened last Wednesday.
The Seoul government also named five places ― Myeong-dong, Namdaemun, Dongdaemun, Insa-dong, Itaewon ― as ``Global Culture Sharing Zones.''
pss@koreatimes.co.kr
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