By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter

Apartment complexes will be able to build English immersion zones and facilities for residents from next year, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said Wednesday.

The English-only zones, however, should operate as non-profit facilities, it said. The revised bill comes as many other existing English immersion villages are suffering huge losses.

A recent government report found that some 20 of these villages run by provincial governments lost nearly 20 billion won last year. However, it is also questionable whether residents can find appropriate staff and efficiently run the facilities.

The government plans to advise municipal governments to overhaul English village construction plans due to the growing losses and low quality of the programs.

kswho@koreatimes.co.kr