. Seoul's Gangbuk District launches multilingual kiosk for foreign residents

Foreign residents of northern Seoul's Gangbuk District will now be able to access multilingual support features at automated civil document kiosks, as the district continues efforts to improve administrative services for its multicultural community.

According to the district office on Wednesday, the initiative is part of the district's efforts to accommodate and ensure service accessibility for its growing foreign population and diverse communities.

The service allows users to receive guidance in five languages — English, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai — when issuing civil documents. By selecting their preferred language on the kiosk’s main screen, foreign residents who are not proficient in Korean can navigate the document issuance process more easily.

The district initially launched the service at two locations — the general situation room inside the district office and the unmanned civil document kiosk at Miasageori Station Seoul Metro Line 4. These locations were chosen based on high usage rates and accessibility. The district plans to gradually expand the service to other kiosks in the area after evaluating the pilot program’s effectiveness.

By removing language barriers in the administrative processes, the district aims to improve overall convenience and enhance the inclusivity of its public services, ensuring that all residents can access essential civil documents without difficulty.

“We are working to ensure that no one — whether they are from multicultural families, older adult populations or individuals with disabilities — is excluded from administrative services,” Gangbuk District Mayor Lee Soon-hee said.

“We will continue to enhance accessibility so that everyone can easily utilize public services.”

souce : https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2025/02/732_392595.html

Comprehension

What new feature is Gangbuk District introducing at civil document kiosks?
Why is this initiative being launched?
How many languages does the kiosk support, and what are they?
Where were the first two kiosks installed?
What is the district’s plan after evaluating the pilot program?
How does the district hope to benefit foreign residents with this service?
According to Mayor Lee Soon-hee, who else will benefit from improved accessibility?

Discussion

How do you think language barriers affect foreign residents in a new country?
Have you ever used a self-service kiosk for government or administrative services? Was it easy or difficult to use?
What are other ways local governments can make public services more accessible to non-native speakers?
Do you think multilingual services like these should be standard in all cities? Why or why not?
In your country, what services are available to help foreign residents or tourists?
Besides language barriers, what other challenges do you think immigrants and foreign residents face when dealing with government services?
What are some advantages and disadvantages of automated kiosks compared to speaking with a government employee?

Vocabulary

Multilingual – Available in multiple languages.
Automated – A system that works by itself, without human help.
Civil documents – Official papers such as birth certificates, residency papers, or permits.
Unmanned – Without human workers; self-service.
Pilot program – A small-scale test before expanding a new service.
Inclusivity – Ensuring that all people, regardless of differences, have equal access.
Administrative services – Government-related services for the public.
Accessibility – How easy it is for people to use a service or facility.