​ The lounge in the KOCIS Center, 10th floor of the Korea Press Center, located near Seoul City Hall on Sejong-ro

Covering news in a foreign country can be tough, as journalists may encounter unfamiliar systems and languages.

In order to help journalists cover news in Korea, the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS), a government agency under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, runs the KOCIS Center as a bridge between the Korean government and foreign journalists.

Formally the Foreign Press Center Korea, the KOCIS Center has served multiple purposes since it opened in 2013, offering different programs and a facility to aid foreign journalists posted in or reporting from Korea. The Center organizes media events like news conferences on policy issues with senior government officials, briefings and interviews with official representatives or other experts.

It also helps journalists find the relevant resources and information they need for reports and provides press releases or statements from government ministries that have been translated into English and other languages. Foreign journalists can also go on press tours, which will give them access to the frontlines of the Korean government and its facilities for in-depth coverage.

To utilize the Center’s support services, journalists have to provide an outline of the topic they are reporting on that includes objectives at least two weeks in advance.

The Center not only offers direct help with news gathering, but also arranges cultural programs to provide a better understanding of the country and its people. These include Korean language classes, taught by professional instructors, and interactive experiences that  bring reporters closer to the traditional and modern aspects of Korea.

Interview room in the KOCIS Center

The KOCIS Center reopened in December last year following extensive expansion and renovation. Located on the 10th floor of the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, central Seoul, the facility houses various spaces for journalists to use.

It consists of a lounge/cafeteria, two meeting rooms, a multi-purpose hall, a studio and editing room, two interview rooms and four individual workspaces.

Journalists can freely rest and enjoy amenities like coffee in the lounge and use other rooms for meetings or interviews. The multi-purpose hall, which has a booth for a simultaneous interpreter, an LED screen and sound system, is usually used for high-profile meetings or events like briefings.

The studio and editing room offers a space for journalists to work on photos or video footage. Features include professional lighting and a backdrop paper roll, as well as equipment for editing content. Journalists can also access quiet, individual workspaces.

The Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M., except for holidays. To use the facility, journalists must hold a KOCIS-issued International Press Card.

To apply for an International Press Card and learn more about the KOCIS Center, visit: www.kociscenter.kr/eng/index.dJo

**If you have any questions about this article, feel free to contact us at kocis@korea.kr.**