Busan City Provides Free Software for Accessible Government Documents

Ensuring Easy Access to Official Information

Busan Metropolitan City is enhancing public access to its official documents by providing free viewer software for various file formats. This initiative aims to ensure that residents, including international visitors and those unfamiliar with specific Korean document types, can easily open, view, and print government notices and other essential information.

A key aspect of this provision addresses the ‘Hangul Word Processor’ (HWP) format. HWP files are a proprietary document type widely utilized by the South Korean government and public institutions. To overcome potential compatibility challenges for users without the full Hancom Office suite, Busan City recommends the free Hancom Office HWP Viewer. This software allows seamless viewing and printing of HWP documents.

• Supported Operating Systems for HWP Viewer: Windows OS, Mac OS

For globally recognized document standards, the city also supports access to Portable Document Format (PDF) files. Adobe Reader (PDF Viewer) is recommended, enabling users to view and print PDF documents directly. This viewer is compatible with a wide range of operating systems and often integrates with web browsers for immediate viewing.

• Supported Operating Systems for Adobe Reader: Windows OS, Linux OS, Mac OS, Android OS

Furthermore, Busan City suggests using OpenOffice for those seeking broader document compatibility and basic editing functions. This free, open-source office suite offers robust compatibility with Microsoft Office files (such as spreadsheets, text documents, and presentations). OpenOffice provides a versatile solution for managing various document types without licensing fees, supporting a transparent software development process.

• Supported Operating Systems for OpenOffice: Windows OS, Linux OS, Mac OS

These essential viewer programs are available for download directly from the Busan Metropolitan City website. The notice was last updated on March 31, 2025, reflecting the city’s ongoing commitment to improving digital accessibility. Users are reminded to exercise caution when providing personal information through feedback channels, as commercial advertisements, inappropriate content, or political messages may be removed without prior notice.

Source: 부산광역시 — Original Notice (Korean)