966 SHARES Facebook Twitter Sign up and we notify you about new features and Add-Ons

T

he Haeundae District Office will scrap its plan to have a designated “foreigner” zone on Haeundae Beach this summer.

“We have realized that it was inappropriate to name an area of the beach as a foreigner zone,” Sohn Jeong-sik, head of operations at Haeundae District Office, told The Korea Observer Wednesday.

Sohn added that the office will accept The Korea Observer’s proposal to rename the zone, which the district office up to now had called a “Foreigner-specialized Zone” (외국인 특화존). The zone is a 50-meter section of the beach cleared of parasols. The district office announced plans for the zone that include erecting beach soccer goal posts, a volleyball court and an area for other activities like sun tanning.

“We welcome The Korea Observer’s proposal to ask expats to weigh in on the most appropriate term to describe the parasol-free area,” he said.

“We will review the finalists selected by The Korea Observer and select one to replace the much disputed name for the foreigner-friendly zone.”

Sohn said his office will be happy to offer souvenirs to the winner of the naming contest.

Haeundae Beach called the parasol-free area on the beach a foreigner zone since 2012 in response to concerns that tourists and expatriates visiting Haeundae could not enjoy summertime activities like beach volleyball on account of the many parasols on the beach.

The Haeundae district office will also conduct its own survey to assess the appropriateness of having a foreigner-friendly zone.

You may propose an alternative name on the comment section of this post. You may also “upvote” the ones that you like the most.

The Korea Observer will select some of the most popular names left on the following comment section or the Korea Observer’s facebook page (facebook.com/koreaobserver) and pass them on to the district office.