[LETTERS to the editor]Korail English service to resume

Sonia Reid Strawn’s letter (April 14) quite rightly complained about the discontinuation of the Korail English language reservation service.
The Seoul Global Center was first notified of the change in Korail’s online reservation service a month ago, in March. At that time, on behalf of some frustrated callers, the SGC staff contacted the Information Management Team Leader at Korail to discuss the problem. The team leader confirmed that a new online reservation system was under construction, and would be available to users sometime in the second half of this year.
We have not really understood why the service could not have continued during the interim period pending the launch of the new system, but at least it is encouraging to know that “service will be resumed as soon as possible.”
Seoul Global Center has a mandate to be proactive and our advocacy role is central to our existence. We have the full support of Seoul metropolitan government in proposing changes in rules and regulations to make them simpler and less of an obstacle. This goes also for central government offices and organizations.
I believe that all of our staff understand this mission. We are all attuned to seek permanent solutions. And to help us “speak up” we will go on relying on dialogue, suggestions and alerts from the foreign communities in Seoul.
Many thanks, Sonia Strawn!
Alan Timblick, head of Seoul Global Center