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| Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon speaks during a meeting with foreign envoys to Korea at Some Sevit floating island on the Han River, Friday. Newsis |
Seoul's financial hub Yeouido to turn English-friendly to attract foreign investors
By Lee Hae-rin
Seoul will build a giant Ferris wheel named "Seoul Ring" in Sangam-dong of the city's western Mapo District to turn the capital into a more attractive, global city, its mayor said, Friday.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced the plan during a spring meeting held in attendance of Foreign Minister Park Jin and some 150 foreign envoys from 99 countries to Korea at Some Sevit floating island on the Han River.
Seoul Ring is going to be a giant Ferris wheel equipped with large cabins for passengers within its modern ring-shaped design.
Oh made a reference to the Ferris wheel's construction plan when he announced the "Great Sunset Project" last August. He pitched that Seoul will install several attractions including on-water stages for art performances, bridges for pedestrians and the giant Ferris wheel to lure visitors to the sunset area along the Han River.
The giant structure was initially named "Seoul Eye," as it was inspired by London's signature attraction London Eye. However, the name changed after its design was finalized to resemble a ring.
According to the mayor, the city government plans to transform Yeouido, the capital's financial hub, into a more English-friendly district to attract foreign residents and investors. As part of this effort, the city will establish English-friendly infrastructure and various facilities in Yeouido.
The infrastructure to be built for foreign nationals includes an English-friendly kids' cafe ― a restaurant or coffee shop equipped with toys and play programs for children, popular among young mothers ― and a library that runs book club programs in English. Yeouido will also have 13 road signs with English directions written above Korean ones, the mayor explained.
It is part of Seoul's master plan to promote and support foreign investments and settlement in Korea.
As part of the plan, Seoul launched Invest Seoul, a sub-governmental agency dedicated to attracting global companies and promoting foreign investment, last February. The agency is the first of its kind established by a local government here and will turn into a government-funded organization by the second half of next year.
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