By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter

Jeon Young-ae, 37, together with her daughter stepped onto a city tour bus arranged for foreign tourists by a Seoul-based tourism agency over the weekend. Jeon took the bus not for sightseeing but to give her daughter an opportunity to learn English.

``It’s the fourth time my daughter has taken the city tour. I am glad when I see my daughter understand what the tour guides say in English and talk to foreigners without fear during the tour,’’ Jeon said.

Jeon is taking advantage of a program provided by Cosmojin Tour, a travel agency. Cosmojin says it sees a growing number of parents with their children participate in the tour program. ``More than 100 Korean children boarded our tour bus during this summer vacation. Students can learn how to introduce Korean cultural heritages in English and they can naturally mingle with foreigners,’’ said Jung Myung-jin, the company president.

Parents have to pay 40,000-50,000 won ($40-50) for a half-day tour and 80,000 won for an all-day tour, with school children getting a 10-30 percent discount. The tour usually includes Seoul Tower, Changdeok Palace, Namsangol Hanok Village and the Amethyst or Ginseng center.

``We will soon launch official programs that enable Korean students to learn English together with foreign tourists. Of course, we will restrict the number of Koreans in the program so that foreigners are not annoyed,’’ Jung added.

kswho@koreatimes.co.kr