Busan enlists foreign residents to welcome global travelers at its busiest transit hub
In the busy concourses of Busan Station, navigating transport routes and foreign signage can feel overwhelming for international travelers arriving in Korea’s premier coastal destination. To bridge that linguistic and cultural divide, local authorities are turning to an underutilized local asset: the city’s vibrant community of international students and foreign residents. Busan is placing these…
Busan is enhancing the experience for international travelers at its busiest transit hub by enlisting the help of its foreign residents. Recognizing the potential challenges faced by visitors navigating the city's transport routes and foreign signage, local authorities are tapping into the city's diverse community of international students and foreign residents.
To support this initiative, Busan has recruited 14 volunteers from 10 different countries to serve as mobile tourism guides within the station. This pilot program, officially launched on Tuesday at the Busan Global City Foundation for Visit Busan Mate, aims to make local attractions, transit, and amenities more accessible and seamless for incoming tourists.
While Busan's overall population has been gradually declining over the past decade, the city has seen a significant increase in its foreign resident population, exceeding 80,000. This surge is attributed to the growing number of international students, now surpassing 24,000, and foreign residents who have contributed to enriching the city's cultural landscape.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
