Scan a QR at Mangwon Market for 34-Language Interpreting: KTO's 'AI Tour Butler' Comes to 6 Traditional Markets

Where and since when

The Korea Tourism Organization's 'AI Tour Butler' started on Oct. 9 at Mangwon Market in Seoul, Haeundae Market in Busan and Suwon Nammun Market in Gyeonggi.

By the end of October, Gyeongdong Market in Seoul, the Andong Gu-sijang Union and Danyang Gugyeong Market join, for six traditional markets in all.

No app, one QR

Scan one of the QR codes posted around the market and it opens right away. No app to install, no sign-up.

What it does

An AI map shows shops, toilets and parking with the best route, and suggests a course and shops based on your age and who you are with.

Live congestion, measured by CCTV analysis and LiDAR sensors, shows the quieter zones and the wait at popular stalls. Korean menus are translated into 10 languages, and conversations with merchants are interpreted live in 34.

Different in each market

Mangwon, packed with takeaway snacks and foreign visitors, gets extra map and translation features. Haeundae Market, next to the beach and busiest with foreigners in the evening, adds night-time congestion and route guidance. Suwon Nammun Market links its routes with Suwon Hwaseong Fortress.

Who built it

It combines technology from four AI companies in KTO's open innovation programme: Deepfine, Triplet, Bitsensing and Flitto.

Moon Seon-ok, head of KTO's tourism AI innovation office, said finding your way and the language barrier have held back market trips, and that the service aims to make visitors stay and spend longer.