Busan Runs ‘Busan Allang,’ Korea’s First AI-Powered Multilingual Menu Platform by a Local Government
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Busan Runs ‘Busan Allang,’ Korea’s First AI-Powered Multilingual Menu Platform by a Local Government
□ Busan Metropolitan City has become the first municipality in Korea to develop a cross-language menu platform utilizing AI image recognition technology. ‘Busan Allang (Busan menus in all languages)’ officially went live on June 10, 2025.
□ Busan Allang is the flagship outcome of the Busan Multilingual Digital Menu Project—the nation’s largest of its kind, initiated in 2024.
○ The name embodies Busan’s commitment to helping everyone savor its culinary delights in a wide range of languages.
○ It also carries a dual message: a warm welcome to domestic and overseas visitors and an assurance of smart administrative solutions tailored to neighborhood establishments.
□ The platform enables proprietors to quickly and easily generate menus in ▲ English, ▲ Simplified & Traditional Chinese, ▲ Japanese, ▲ Vietnamese, ▲ Russian, and ▲ Arabic.
○ The process is straightforward: ▲ Upload a photo of a Korean-language menu; ▲ AI detects and converts the text; and ▲ After professional proofreading, a custom QR code linking to the translated menu is issued.
○ For restaurants without an existing menu, the system also supports the creation of one in Korean from scratch.
□ No app download is required. Both owners and customers can instantly access multi-language menus by scanning each venue’s unique code.
○ Given how often menu items and prices are adjusted, the platform highlights a personalized dashboard that enables real-time edits.
○ Transitioning to an ongoing, self-managed portal, rather than relying on a one-off rendered model, is projected to lower expenses and workload.
□ Busan Allang offers more than just language adaptation—it is a comprehensive toolkit designed to elevate operational effectiveness.
○ Among its features are: ▲ a menu glossary, ▲ videos on gastronomic culture, ▲ practical English phrases for dining settings, ▲ hygiene-grade mock tests, ▲ food safety alerts, and ▲ a mistranslation reporting function.
□ Starting June 10, food service providers throughout the city can use the platform free of charge via menu.busan.go.kr.
□ To commemorate the launch, Busan is hosting a giveaway for participating businesses.
○ Any restaurant that completes at least one translated menu by June 19 is eligible to enter.
□ As part of a broader push to ensure a smooth, convenient experience for international guests and alleviate translation burdens on local vendors, Busan rolled out the Busan Multilingual Digital Menu Project.
○ In 2024, a total of 2,015 places were recruited through an open call. Last February, they received printed menus, QR codes, and ‘Foreigner-Friendly Eatery’ stickers.
○ Originally covering English, Simplified & Traditional Chinese, and Japanese, the project later expanded to include Vietnamese, Russian, and Arabic in response to the growing demand.
How to enjoy Busan local food with multilingual menus
