By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
On Monday afternoon at GS cable TV station in southern Seoul, about eight crew members were busy filming an English news program.
The first story focused on a "Bear-Brick Exhibition" for children held at a local convention center.
Coverage of free-counseling programs for teenagers, the medical tourism boom and English events among elementary school students ― which had all taken place in Gangnam, southern Seoul ― followed.
"Gangnam English News" is the first news program of its kind runby a local administration and airs every weekday at 7:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. for around 10 minutes on GS cable channel 14 for those in the district. It is also viewable through www.ingang.go.kr. The same segment is replayed throughout the week.
Although it has been just three months since the program went on air, Gangnam Office spokesman, Chang Won-suk, said the response to the program has been positive.
"The number of visitors to the Web site has been going up and there are requests for expansion of the program," he said.
"My friends tell me that the program provides useful information about what's going on around town - charity events, free exhibitions and more. I sometimes recommend the program to my family members, too," news reader Lisa Kelly said.
"It is true that lots of foreigners do not get a chance to understand the place they are living in due to the lack of information. The program has shown ways for foreigners to mingle with Koreans," she said.
Leading the project is Maeng Jung-ju, chief of the district office. In an interview with The Korea Times, the former finance ministry official disclosed his plan to make the region more friendly, comfortable and convenient for foreigners.
English news was part of his efforts to polish Gangnam's image for the 7,000 registered foreigners there and many more tourists. "The inspiration came from the Spanish city of Bilbao where they run a local Spanish-English news program. The program soon became popular and was made accessible to all parts of the country," he said.
"English has become ever more important. I want a 24-hour English news channel for Gangnam: one news segment with four different items a week isn't enough.
"Surely it will attract not only foreigners but those who want to study English. If not, I am opting for a radio channel.
"People want to learn politics and large affairs, but at the same time they want to hear something relevant, close to the heart. The local English news is just what everyone wanted," he said.
Maeng sees English as the best way to turn Gangnam into a true global business area: The district office and Seoul City have announced a plan to create a global business complex at the current Korea Electric Power Corporation.
The 141-story building and surrounding complex is expected to draw more foreigners to the already affluent region.
In preparation, Maeng has streamlined infrastructure facilities within the district: There is the Global Village Center for foreign residents' administrative affairs, hundreds of foreigner-friendly medical facilities, and cultural facilities ranging from cinemas to markets. English can frequently be heard in these places.
"Wait and see. We will show the world that we are indeed a globalized city," he said.