[Opinion] Street English

The Korean language is being spoken on the Bateaux Mouches of the Seine River, the best-known river in France. Korean tourists can view the sights of Paris, such as Notre Dame Cathedral, with explanations in Korean, and many Koreans feel proud of it. And the Louvre Museum will start to provide an explanation service in Korean beginning from November this year at the earliest. It is very pleasant to hear that Korean will become one of the official languages of the Louvre, along with French, English, German, Italian, Spanish and Japanese. It is very difficult to look around a museum listening to explanations in a foreign language if you are not proficient in that language.

Though Korean Air’s promise to provide $1.68 million played a big part, a huge number of Korean tourists (90,000 a year) have helped the Louvre make its decision. The Louvre probably decided to provide a more comfortable environment for Koreans in an attempt to attract more Korean tourists.

Busan city is planning to attract more foreign tourists by enhancing the English proficiency of its citizens. According to a survey conducted by the Korea National Tourism Organization, difficulty in communication (59.5%) was ranked first among foreign tourists’ complaints. If we cannot address the situation, more and more foreign tourists will turn their back on us. In order to attract more tourists, we have to enhance the proficiency of our ‘street English.’

We also have to change our attitude toward foreign tourists. About 20-30 foreigners visit the tourist information center at the Cheonggyecheon every day. Staff at the information center say that few Koreans help foreign tourists even when they are lost and need help. If a stranger is lost in a big city of a foreign country, somebody will approach him/her, and willingly offer help. We have to be friendlier toward foreign tourists. Even if we do not have a good command of English, we can move their minds with a big smile. With this kind smile, we can make a better future.

Bhang Hyeon-nam, Editorial Writer, hnbhang@donga.com