Press Release

The Dongdaemun Future Foundation (Chairman Dongho Kim) is set to provide a four-month Chinese language education program to local merchants in Dongdaemun. The education program is a part of the foundation’s effort to establish a win-win cooperative model with local merchants to achieve mutual growth in the region. It aims at helping store owners learn basic Chinese expressions to communicate with Chinese customers and increase sales. Dongdaemun is a popular tourism destination among Chinese tourists. The education program is provided to the owners and sales clerks of the stores in multi-complex shopping malls such as Doota, Migliore, APM, Maxtyle and Goodmorning City as well as traditional markets. Currently, 397 stores have applied for the education program, and more stores can apply for the class in the middle of the course. To more efficiently run the education program, a group comprised of a Chinese language teacher and two college students visits a store together to provide private classes. Along with the private lessons, the foundation has produced and distributed Chinese expression cards that can be used as references in various situations, which local merchants find very handy when Chinese customers visit. Doosan established the Dongdaemun Future Foundation in October 2015, with an aim to promote the development of the Dongdaemun area and grow together with the local merchants through public-private-academic partnerships. “Starting from this Chinese language class, we plan to expand our programs to a wide range of areas in order to help stimulate businesses in Dongdaemun,” said an officer of the foundation. Some of the projects currently under preparation include the operation of night markets in affiliation with Dongdaemun Design Plaza, and the development of a “Dongdaemun City Transport System” in the region. Furthermore, it plans to operate programs to recognize young, promising designers and nurture design talents through fashion shows, contests and industry-academic projects.▲A Chinese language teacher and college student assistants provide Chinese language classes to a local merchant in Dongdaemun.