Daily Busan
Citizens overwhelmingly support Busan’s English Friendly City
A recent survey found that 77.7% of Busan residents support the city’s English Friendly City initiative, which aims to enhance accessibility for international visitors and improve English proficiency among locals.
Conducted by the polling firm Southern Post in December 2023, the survey included 1,000 Busan residents aged 18 and older.
Among those who view the policy favorably, the top reasons cited were the policy’s effect on “boosting local tourism” (27%), “alignment with global trends” (12.9%), and “improving citizens’ English proficiency” (12.1%).
In contrast, respondents with a negative outlook question the practicality of the English-friendly policy and feel it is unnecessary.
Despite these reservations, 92.9% of respondents agree that the English Friendly City initiative contributes to Busan’s development. The most important policy goals identified were making Busan more convenient for international tourists (24.3%) and ensuring English education is accessible to children (22.1%).
When asked about desired English-related programs, 49.9% of respondents asked for “practical English classes for adults,” and 21.5% wanted “free English programs for children.”
<Today's Vocabulary - 오늘의 단어>
survey: 조사 enhance: 향상 시키다 accessibility: 접근성 proficiency: 유창성 favorably: 우호적으로 alignment: 지지 in contrast: 대조적으로 negative: 부정적인 practicality: 실용성 contribute to: ~에 기여하다 convenient: 편리한
Editor: Song Soomi
Copy Editors: Ryu Hyoseung, Anton J. Mapoy