Seoul launches English texting service on city helpline

Seoul, the capital of South Korea, has introduced an English texting service for its central municipal helpline, announced on Monday by city officials. This new feature is set to launch at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, courtesy of the 120 Dasan Call Foundation, a government-operated agency.

The service will operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, allowing foreign residents and tourists to text their questions in English to receive real-time guidance on various matters. These include daily life advice and information about city infrastructure, such as public transit routes and municipal water service updates.

While the helpline service itself is free, users will incur standard text-messaging fees as per their mobile plan provider. It's important to note that these fees do not affect the core service provided by the helpline, which remains a no-cost resource for the city's non-native English speakers.

For those who are unable to reach the helpline during its operating hours, alternative support networks are available. The government-backed Danuri Call Center, for instance, is equipped to assist multicultural families and international residents outside of regular business hours. The 120 Dasan Call Center, established in September 2007 during Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s first term, has been instrumental in bridging language barriers and providing essential city services to non-native English speakers.