The Palace of Westminster, home to the British Parliament (Yonhap)
LONDON, Oct. 1 (Korea Bizwire) — Visitors to the Palace of Westminster, home to the British Parliament and one of London’s most iconic landmarks, can now explore its historic halls with the help of a Korean-language multimedia guide.
From Oct. 1, the Parliament’s visitor booking website has offered Korean, alongside Japanese and Polish, as new options for its audio and visual tour service. The guide explains the history and significance of sites such as Westminster Hall, the House of Commons and Lords chambers, and the Central Lobby.
Previously available in nine languages including English, French, German, Italian, and Chinese, the service has now expanded to 12 languages. Parliament officials said language additions are based on the size of domestic language communities and the number of international visitors.
The Palace of Westminster, together with Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret’s Church, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. Each year, about one million people visit the complex, which houses 650 members of the House of Commons, 826 peers in the House of Lords, and more than 3,100 staff.
Westminster Hall most recently hosted Queen Elizabeth II’s lying-in-state in 2022, while the Elizabeth Tower — better known as Big Ben — remains a global symbol of London.
Korean was added following discussions last October between South Korea’s National Assembly Secretary General Kim Min-ki and Tom Goldsmith, Clerk of the House of Commons. The initiative was proposed by South Korea’s Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik.
Kim Kyung-won, Korea’s parliamentary envoy in London, welcomed the development, saying it reflects the “friendly ties between the two legislatures” and will enhance convenience for Korean visitors as well as pride among the Korean community in the UK.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
