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Daily Busan

A conversation with foreign resident Juli Ooi

chairwoman: (여성)의장
 

Juli Ooi is a representative of Malaysians in Busan, a community of Malaysian people living in Busan and the surrounding area. She shared her daily life and her experience as a former marketing director of a local tour agency.

Please introduce yourself and Malaysians in Busan to Daily Busan subscribers.

Hello, I'm Juli. Malaysians in Busan was set up 10 years ago or more to get all the Malaysians together to network and support each other. I was appointed as the chairwoman five or six years ago. We host small gatherings to get together from time to time, enjoy our own food, and promote Malaysia. We also have events open to Koreans and other nationals, such as the Independence Day party. We run at least two events a year. We participate in Global Gathering every year. We showcase our traditional food.

I noticed that you used to work in a tour agency. Are there any special places you recommended to tourists? 

It depended on where they wanted to go, but I usually recommended places that showed the real, old Busan. For example, Gamcheon, the International Market in Jung-gu District, the Gwangbok-ro Biff Square area, Yongdusan Park or even Taejongdae. 

Also, it depended on their budget. If they are budget-conscious, they have limited money to spend. So we only took them to beaches, mountains or parks. But if they were not conscious of money, I tried to take them on the Mipo Cruise. It was popular back then.

As a foreign resident, do you have any recommendations for City Hall to enhance the city’s appeal or amenities? 

So far, Busan is doing quite well. I get emergency alerts immediately when it's raining or whatever. I'm so satisfied with that.

Busan is currently implementing the English-Friendly City policy. Do you have any ideas for the policy?

That’s a good initiative. It will make Busan more tourist-friendly. I find living in Busan and Korea easier overall than living in my home country, Malaysia. The systems here are more structured and transparent. There is harmony and less threat of discrimination or religious violence than in other countries. It's good here. 

<Today's Vocabulary - 오늘의 단어>

representative: 대표 be appointed as: ~로 지정되다 conscious: 걱정하는 emergency: 응급  alert: 알림 immediately: 즉시 satisfied with: ~에 만족하다 initiative: 계획 structure: 구조화 된 transparent: 명확한 threat: 위협 discrimination: 차별 religious: 종교적인 violence: 폭력

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