Busan is good

English village to be set up near Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone

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The southeastern port city of Busan plans to create an English immersion town near the Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone where English and Korean will be used jointly by 2009.

If established, the town will be the first in Korea to use English in public and private facilities.

In addition, English will be used on all traffic signs in the town and all official documents will be written in both English and Korean, according to the city.

“The town, which will be set up in the Myeongji and Sinho areas, is part of the municipal government's policy to make the city more foreigner-friendly,” said a city official.

The official also said that the city will deploy more English-speaking teachers in schools in the town and hire Koreans who speak fluent English at other facilities such as hospitals, banks and restaurants.

The city said Young Jo Engineering & Construction will be in charge of constructing the town. It is scheduled to be completed by 2009, the company said.

According to the company, it will set up a “Queendom” mall in the town where employees at various facilities, such as kindergartens, shopping malls and coffee shops, will be required to speak only English to those under age 19 to provide an English-only environment.

“We will make sure that mall employees who don't speak English to customers under 19 will lose their jobs. Through the system, we expect town residents will be able to speak English around the clock,” said an official at the company.

He said that a separate management company will be set up to maintain the English-only system systematically, adding that more detailed plans will soon follow.

“Unlike other English immersion villages where students can stay for a limited period, people will actually live in the town in an English-only environment. That's a big difference,” said the official.
 
The source of news : Korea.net  February 16, 2006