Foreigners asked to be monitors of 'Korea Pass' card

Foreign tourists purchase bottled juice with a ‘Korea Pass’ card at a Seven-Eleven convenience store in Seoul, on Jan. 10.

One hundred foreign residents here will be selected this month to become monitors of ``Korea Pass,’’ a prepaid card designed for foreign tourists, as part of the Korea Tourism Organization’s (KTO) efforts to promote its use.

If selected, foreigners will be given a 50,000-won ($45) prepaid card from the state-run tourism promoter and be allowed to spend the money at department stores or other hospitality-related businesses of their choice. All they have to do is to fill out a one-page questionnaire later about their shopping experiences.

KTO is accepting email applications from those who are interested in becoming monitors at koreapass@knto.or.kr through March 13. An application form can be downloaded at www.koreapass.or.kr.

``We will review all the applications and choose a group of 100 foreign residents as monitors of Korea Pass card, which was launched on Dec. 20 in cooperation with Lotte Card,” said Kang Soon-deog, manager of KTO’s tourism service improvement team.

“They will be given a 50,000-won prepaid card. They will then give us feedback about their shopping experience, which will help us find an effective way to promote the card to foreign visitors.’’

Kang said those selected will receive the card by March 18 and spend the money through March 31.

Monitors will then be required to submit a questionnaire by April 8. ``We hope that the monitors can provide us with a range of fresh ideas about how to promote and market Korea Pass among foreign visitors,’’ the official said.

Foreign tourists can purchase the prepaid cards at KTO booths, airports, Lotte Mart and Seven-Eleven. They will also receive discount coupons. The cards are available in denominations of 50,000 won, 100,000 won, 300,000 won and 500,000 won.

Card users can receive up to 30 percent discounts at department stores, tourism spots, museums, theaters and restaurants in Seoul and Busan. They include Chongdong Theater, Lotte Mart, Seven-Eleven, Angel-in-us Coffee, Lotte Duty Free, T.G.I. Friday’s and TomaTillo.
Link : http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/03/113_82653.html