Myeongdong is such a great shopping cities with a long history. Inevitably the shopping traits are not well organized as one would like to have. So you often see, or be one yourself, lost tourists and even local shoppers from other Korean cities, wandering around the streets losing directions. Teenagers may go mistakenly to districts filled with clothing stores on mature fashion lines, or vice vesrsa.
Fear not now. There are henceforth be extra tour guides to assist those visiting one of the most popular fashion areas in Seoul, starting from this January 2009.
Aside from the small information booth already established, the city of Seoul has launched seven tour guides to patrol the three most frequented blocks in Myeongdong, looking for those seemingly in trouble with language barriers or directions.
The tour guides will provide explanations in English, Chinese and Japanese, carrying maps and other informative resources in those languages. The guides will wear a jacket bearing a large white “i” for “information,” circled in red.
Six guides will be divided into three groups to patrol the three major blocks of Myeongdong centered respectively at Royal Hotel, Savoy Hotel and Myeongdong M Plaza. One remaining group will take turns during weekends. They will be on hand from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The city plans to operate the service for the next six months and determine whether to expand to other areas. According to the survey, about 50 percent of the overseas tourists in Seoul visit Myeongdong. Japanese tourists especially made up 34.5 percent of the total 6.9 million (Dec. 2008).
“We are switching our tour information service from passive to active by approaching tourists first,” an official said.
Few Koreans speak conversant English, even in tourist areas. So you better arm with this handy book with you shopping in Korean:
by Kang-jin Yi, Kangjin Lee
Price: USD 10.17
25 used & new available from USD 5.07
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