The plan will create three types of zones and provide tailored services for foreign residents by 2008.

Four business zones will offer improved environments for international businesses, six global villages will make residential life easier for foreigners and five culture exchange zones will offer enhanced attractions for visitors.

"The zones will be developed as areas where foreigners who cannot speak Korean can live and work without difficulty," a city official said.

"The Global Zone Project will contribute to attracting foreign investment and boosting the economy by improving Seoul's international competitiveness and enhancing living conditions for foreigners," the official said.

The business zones will include city center near City Hall, the trade area in Samsung-dong, GS Tower in Yeoksam-dong and the Yeouido area. These areas are popular with foreign companies.

The city will set up "Seoul Global Centers" in each area that will offer business support to rival the country's free economic zones.

One-stop administration services will include immigration services, documents for international marriages and international driver licenses for domestic use. The city will also provide investment advice and real estate services.

The global villages will be designated in the foreigner-heavy areas of Hannam-dong, Icheon-dong, Itaewon-dong in Yongsan district, Seorae village in Seocho district, Yeoksam-dong in Gangnam district and Yeonhee-dong in Seodaemun district.

Foreign residents in those areas will get utility bills, trash bags, registration documents and signs written in various languages. There will also be medical clinics exclusively for foreigners.

The top five most popular areas for foreign tourists - Myeongdong, Namdaemun, Itaewon, Dongdaemun and Insadong -- will be designated global culture exchange zones.

Seoul plans to update signs on Myeongdong road and encourage restaurants to offer menus in English and Chinese along with Korean.

In order to nurture international talent, the city also plans to hire 500 foreign workers, nearly one percent of the total number of Seoul civil servants, by revising regulations by 2014.

(englishnews@chosun.com )