Gyeongju to start "K-Miso City" Campaign ahead of APEC 2025 Korea

Back on the local front.

The southern city of Gyeongju is seeking to ensure that language is not a barrier to travel for foreigners there during the APEC leaders' meeting later this autumn.

Ahn Sung-jin has more.

A taxi driver wearing a shirt, vest, and tie embroidered with the Gyeongju City symbol welcomes a foreign guest.

Speaking through a smartphone app, the guest tells the driver his destination.

"Please take me to the Bulguk Temple."

It is translated automatically on the driver's cell phone.

What the driver says to the customer is also translated immediately.

This two-way, AI translator has been provided to around a thousand taxi drivers in the Gyeongju area ahead of APEC 2025 Korea.

"Since we have the translation application ready, we can communicate with foreign guests and take them to destinations more easily."

Gyeongsangbuk-do Province has started its "K-MISO CITY" project, which stands for "My Innovative Smart Open City," for foreign visitors ahead of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November.

The province says it's a "civic movement" with the aim of encouraging people to revisit Korea.

Key tasks aim to transform aspects of society to create a smart and open city.

The project is also set to improve public transport services, lodging facilities, and traditional markets.

With events like "APEC Plogging" and "APEC Clean Day," citizens will clean the streets to make sure the city is as clean as it can be.

"We try to set our smiles, kindness, and cleanliness as our standard practice from the service industry to daily life. This will create a smart and safe city for everyone."

Since the voluntary participation of citizens is essential for the successful hosting of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, the province plans to promote the campaign through civic education.

Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.