KoreaToday Seocho Moving Toward Global Village
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
If a Korean learns that there is a place where you can read all kinds of books and video materials in English by paying just 10,000 won per year or learn the language from native speaking teachers for the same amount, they may believe it is just a silly joke. In a country where the private English education market is worth 15 trillion won, 10,000 won looks like a steal.
But, in the Seocho District, in the southern part of Seoul Metropolitan City, these statements are true: More than 1,200 people are using the facilities, aiming to make their lives a little more ``globalized.''
Break the shell
``In the modern world, people need to break their own shell and look at themselves in a bigger picture and see the world. How can you adjust in a globalized world? I say it's speaking foreign languages ― especially English for Seocho at the moment,'' said Park Sung-joong, chief of the Seocho-gu District Office.
Seocho, where there are more than 5,600 foreign residents, is a perfect place for experimenting with his belief. Right after his inauguration in 2006, Park set his goal of letting 30 percent of district residents use English freely.
``I know it sounds too bold to be true considering that many Koreans know English, but they are not fluent speakers nor great writers. However, I say if you want to pick up the pearls, dive into the ocean!'' he said.
English Premier Seocho
Park devised a large blueprint called English Premier Seocho, and established an English Premier Center in Bangbae-dong. It wasn't just an ordinary private English institute, as many people assumed. A vast range of books, video materials and other educational tools were provided.
The institute drew immediate attention from others. About 1,200 enrolled for the class and now centers are to be established in three other spots ― Banpo, Yangjae and Seocho-dong ― this year.
``We were all surprised that many people understood the importance of English in their everyday lives and tried to search for information about how to learn it effectively,'' Park said.
The district is to move on further and support public English education. Some 23,000 teachers who speak English fluently will be hired. Around 70 percent of middle school and 50 percent of high school classes are to be conducted in the language. In English conversation classes, the number of students will be limited to 23 per session.
Incumbent teachers will have to undergo extra English classes and those who have trouble in conducting them will have assistants in lectures.
``We will be using all methods ― the Internet, video programs, after-school classes ― to push our goal,'' Park said.
Secrets to English Immersion Policy
It is true that local administrations have been striving to make so-called English immersion policies come true. Previous projects have turned out to be quite unsuccessful ― the number of users is decreasing and some of the facilities are being considered for closure.
Park said the first reason for his success was that residents were ready to accept the policy. ``About 70 percent of the bread-earners in our district are university graduates or higher educated. It means that they are more familiar with the language and are more open to having to learn English,'' he said.
The second is that Seocho is a well off district. The so-called Samsung Town, where all the important headquarters of the nation's largest corporation are located, has just moved to the region and major law firms, multinational firms as well as other industry headquarters or branches are located there.
But the most intriguing is the third.
High-ranking officials at the office are holding managers' meetings in English. All documents as well as video materials are made in English. The officials are taking English tests regularly and are ``requested'' to regularly show off their progress to Park.
Park has handpicked several idioms, useful expressions and sentence books. Then he told subordinates to memorize every sentence.
About 470 staff underwent hardcore English training, starting from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
``There is no golden road to learning English. You keep memorizing correct sentences and then one day, it will pop out,'' he said. Park takes his staff on overseas business trips and checks whether the lessons have worked.
``First, they seemed to be intimidated, but now I see them walk to strangers and say whatever they want to in English ― though they may not be perfect,'' he said.
``I think civil servants should always be ahead of the trend and lead people. I see a vision of Seocho becoming a global district. If we want to make it, then we should be the first ones to go for it."
Making Life Good
The number of foreign residents in the district is around 5,600 ― higher than many other local administrations. Most of them are French, who live near French schools in Seoraemaeul, but there are also significant numbers of Japanese, Germans and other nationals living there.
These foreign residents inspired Park to push his plans further. He has designated 29 restaurants in the region as an ``English Acknowledged Zone.'' There, every staff member is able to speak English. ``Foreigners go there to use their language while Koreans go there to adapt what they have learned in real life,'' he said.
``Most of the restaurant owners in Seoraemaeul have been abroad and they understand our policy."
The district office has also published an English guidebook for residents in the area. The 218-page book contains information about living in Korea, especially in Seocho. From locations and contact points of the local administration office to medical facilities and embassy hotlines, the book has nearly everything there is to know about life in Seoul as a foreigner.
``I am sure it is the best guidebook for practical life in Korea,'' he said.
Park said that, in the future, Seocho will become a place where not only English, but French, German, Chinese and Japanese are easily spoken.
``We are now just at the starting point. But I am sure we will achieve it,'' he added.