During the meeting with the guides from the main palaces and Jongmyo Shrine, Lee personally thanked them for their work and said guides play a significant role in helping visitors recognize the true value of historic sites. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Apr. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon invited a number of tour guides to his office on Thursday and discussed a number of issues facing historic sites in Seoul.
During the meeting with the guides from the main palaces and Jongmyo Shrine, Lee personally thanked them for their work and said guides play a significant role in helping visitors recognize the true value of historic sites.
Lee also called for guide services in more languages apart from English, Chinese and Japanese.
“I feel like the range of languages used by tour guides is quite narrow. It seems Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese are most common. Since the world is becoming more diverse, we hope to see more French and Spanish speakers gradually,’ Lee said.
Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon invited a number of tour guides to his office on Thursday and discussed a number of issues facing historic sites in Seoul. (Image: Yonhap)
Lee also mentioned emerging countries like Vietnam and Indonesia, and addressed the need for Southeast Asian language speakers.
A total of 61 guides are currently working at four of the main palaces in Seoul and Jongmyo Shrine, with each guiding three to four groups of visitors every day.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
