Busan is good

Busan Launches Nation’s First AI-Based Foreign Language Menu Platform “Busan Allang”

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The Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced the official launch of “Busan Allang (Busan Menus in All Languages)” — Korea’s first AI-based image translation platform dedicated to creating foreign language menus for restaurants — starting today (June 10).

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“Busan Allang” is the central achievement of the “Busan Digital Foreign Language Menu Support Program,” the nation’s largest municipal initiative of its kind, which Busan has been promoting since 2024.

○ The name Busan Allang reflects the goal of enabling all visitors to experience “the taste of Busan” in various languages.

○ It also conveys a welcoming message to domestic and international tourists to “Come to Busan” and provides a convenient, digital public service for local restaurant owners.

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The platform allows restaurant operators to easily create foreign language menus. Supported languages include:
▲ English ▲ Simplified & Traditional Chinese ▲ Japanese ▲ Vietnamese ▲ Russian ▲ Arabic

○ Operators simply upload a photo of their current menu.
 - The AI system recognizes and converts the text
 - A professional translator reviews the results
 - A QR code is then issued to provide the foreign language menu digitally

○ If a menu doesn’t already exist, operators can manually create a Korean menu from scratch (DIY).

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Importantly, no app installation is required for either business owners or customers. Menu translations are accessed via the restaurant’s unique QR code.

○ Designed for the food industry’s frequent menu and price changes, the platform allows restaurant owners to easily update their menu via a personal “My Page” section.

○ This transition from one-time support to continuous use significantly reduces repeated time and costs, offering practical benefits to restaurant operations.

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More than a simple translation tool, Busan Allang is a comprehensive digital platform that directly supports restaurant management.

○ Additional features include:
 - Foreign menu glossary
 - Promotional videos showcasing Busan cuisine
 - Common restaurant English phrases
 - Hygiene rating practice tests
 - Food safety news updates
 - A reporting center for translation errors

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All restaurant owners in Busan can access the service for free at https://menu.busan.go.kr starting today.

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To celebrate the launch, Busan is holding a prize event for restaurants that create menus using “Busan Allang.”

○ Running until June 19, any Busan restaurant that creates at least one foreign language menu using the platform during this period is eligible.

○ Winners will be randomly selected and announced on June 25 via the platform's notice board and direct contact.

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The City originally launched the program to eliminate language barriers for international diners and reduce the translation burden on restaurant owners.

○ In 2024, 2,015 restaurants were selected and received printed menus, custom QR codes, and “Foreigner-Friendly Restaurant” certification stickers in February 2025.

○ Initially limited to English, Chinese (Simplified/Traditional), and Japanese, the supported languages were expanded to Vietnamese, Russian, and Arabic to better serve Korea’s increasingly diverse foreign residents and tourists.

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Lee So-ra, Director-General of the Busan Public Health Bureau, stated,
“‘Busan Allang’ is the nation’s first case of combining AI technology with food-related administrative services. It promotes the appeal of Busan cuisine to foreign visitors while providing real support to restaurant owners.”
She added, “We will continue developing innovative programs to improve the competitiveness and quality of the dining environment while enhancing the effectiveness of public administration.”