Seoul to Open Service Center for Foreigners

By Kim RahnStaff Reporter
Seoul will set up a one-stop service center in downtown for foreign residents and visitors by 2011.It is a part of the city's effort to improve foreigners' living conditions here. The measure comes after the city government has collected opinions and complaints from foreign residents at Seoul Town Meetings since 2000, with the latest one held Wednesday.The city Thursday announced a plan to establish a ``Global Cluster Building,'' with five basement levels and 14 upper floors, in Jongno with 25 billion won ($25 million) in budget for administrative and cultural services for foreigners here.Seoul Global Center, which opened in the Seoul Press Center in January to help foreign visitors and residents resolve problems, will move to this building with expanded services for comprehensive administration, business, immigration, counseling and daily living.For cultural exchanges between Koreans and foreigners, business meeting rooms, exhibition halls, a theater, a library, and a day nursery will be set up. The building will also have a medical center, gyms, banks, restaurants, and a rooftop sky lounge. Many foreign chambers of commerce in Korea are expected to move to this building.``The number of foreigners living in Seoul increased fourfold over the last decade, but the city's expansion of facilities for them has not met the increase,'' a city official said.The city has paid attention to obstacles and difficulties which its foreign residents have encountered in Seoul, holding Seoul Town Meetings once or twice a year since 2000.At the 10th meeting held Wednesday, the participants' two main topics were about health service and increasing the number and quality of foreign schools, Alan Timblick, head of the Seoul Global Center, told The Korea Times.About 130 foreign nationals said they cannot get proper medical services due to complicated procedures and lack of information given to them. Some complained that many foreign workers and teachers do not get proper information about medical insurance from their employers, while others said hospitals do not have systems for foreigners, such as interpretation.In regard to the issue, city officials said foreigners can receive national health insurance. They also said an emergency medical information call center, 1339, would offer English, Japanese and Chinese services from May 1, providing information of first-aid treatment and locations of nearby hospitals.Hanyang University professor Ahn Mi-lee gave a presentation about the situation of foreign schools in Seoul, saying foreign parents are looking for a good education for their children. ``Some participants proposed the city government set up a committee with both Korean and foreign members where they can discuss foreign school issues together,'' city official Uhm Eui-sik said.rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr


my opinion


I find good news about efforts to improve foreign investment. During last few classes, Professor Lee emphasized foreign investment environment in Korea. The news is about this point.
I agree with Professor Lee, because Korea is not a big market. For example, China is enough to large can circulate their economy inside their land, they has enough material and population. The outher side, Korea cannot, and we don’t have enough materials and population, too. Besides we are not enough capital to import. Surely Korean economy scale is not small. Besides, Korean GDP is 13th in the world, but almost all, it depend on an exports. Exports are important source in Korean economy and investment, too. Investment from other country will increase capital in Korea. In capitalism wolrd, capital is a necessarly point of profit. If Korea lost it again and again, we would be poor. Therefore, we make a better environment for investmentors from abroad.
Following this article, Korea does not much thing for foreigners. I think we don’t need to try for this, because Korea was attractive. Korean stock market was evaluated low, because of war risk and uncleaned finance. After the 1997 finance crisis, However, Uncleaned Korean companis were changed. Mereover, Hetbuet policy improved a relationship between North and South Korea. In a conclusion, many foreigners have an interst on Korea, and invest much money. Nowadays, foreigners are considering about investment. We must motivate them. We show them that we are attractive yet, and Korea has a good environment.
I glad to hear the news. The open service center for foreign will be a good start. Many foreigners will welcome this plan. This center gives an incentive not only living in Korea, but also visiting and treveling. Moreover, it will improve an image of Korea. In this environmet, foreigners want to buy Korean products, and know more Korean culture.
Only one service center in Seoul is not enough. Surely, it is too small part to change better. It is just symbol that Korea is starting to care foreigners. I want that the center will be opened every city. I hope, In the future, whole Korea to be the open service center for foreign.

20300174 Nah Kilwoong, entry–8
Article from Koreatimes, 08-05-01, 17:32
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/