Website to help foreign Web users

The government yesterday announced the launch of a website to provide foreigners with information on the sign-up process for local websites, as part of its efforts to give foreigners easier access to local websites.

Since May last year, the Korea Communications Commission has allowed foreigners to register with local websites by submitting a passport number. Before the revision of the registration system, only those who had alien registration numbers were allowed to sign up at local websites as members.



In August, the government also set up a guideline for web masters to permit sign-up of expatriates living in Korea. The KCC sent the guideline to operators of a total of 800 Web portals, internet shopping malls, online game sites and other major websites.

In its latest efforts to make it easy for foreigners to use websites, the KCC launched the website, which is available in four languages: Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese. (www.ifriendly.kr)

"Despite Korea`s advanced broadband infrastructure, foreigners in Korea experience inconvenience in using local websites," the government said.

Foreigners cannot use many websites because a limited number of websites allow alternate means of identification, such as an alien registration number or passport number,

Errors frequently occur during sign-up processes. The KCC said it will continue its efforts to make local websites more accessible to foreigners.

(hjjin@heraldm.com)