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216. The 1st World High Wire Championships on May 3
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Author : U.E.C.
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 From May 3-5, eighteen tightroping experts from nine countries will compete for prizes totaling 30 million won within a distance of 1 km trial across the Hangang River. Competitors will walk across a 30 mm-thick metal wire suspended 22 meters high that stretches from the Yanghwa to Mangwon riverbank.
The competition will be broadcast live on MBC and on large LED screens from both sides of the Hangang river. In addition to the competition, there will be a number of exciting events and performances.
¡Û Period: May 3-5, 2007
¡Û Venue: Yanghwa area (Starting point) - Mangwon area (Ending point)
¡Ø Opening and closing ceremonies and additional events will be held in the Yanghwa area.
¡Û Program: High Wire Championships, Tightrope walking performance
¡Û Participants: 18 tightrope experts from 9 countries
Notable participants include:
Kwon Won Tae (Korea)
Adili (China) - World recorder holder for longest tightrope walk at 687 m
Jade Kinder Martin (USA) - Famous for crossing the Thames
Oieda (Ecuador) - Guinness Book of World Records holder for highest tightrope walk at 35 feet.
¡Û Schedule
May 3 (Thurs.)
Main Event - 2007 Opening Ceremony 2:00~2:20 pm, High Wire Championship 2:20~7:00 pm
Sub Event - 10:00am~7:30pm Rehearsal & Performance
May 4 (Fri.) 2007
Main Event - High Wire Championship 1:00~7:00 pm
Sub Event - 09:00 am~7:30 pm Rehearsal & Performance
May 5 (Sat.) 2007
Main Event - High Wire Championship 1:00~7:00 pm, Closing Ceremony & Awards 7:00~7:30 pm
Sub Event - 09:00 am~5:30 pm Rehearsal & Performance
¡Û How to get there:
Subway - Bus
·Go to Dangsan Station (Line 2) and go out of Exit 1.
¢¡ Main Line (Blue) : 605, 660, 661
¢¡ Branch Line (Green) : 6623, 6631, 6632, 6633
·Go to Hapjeong Station (Line 2 or 6) and go out of Exit 8.
¢¡ Blue bus: 605, 604
¢¡ Green bus: 5712, 6712, 6716
Walking Route
From Dangsan Station, go out of Exit 4 and walk towards Yanghwa Bridge ¡æ Yukgap Gateway (Toggigul) ¡æ Yanghwa riverbank
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Thursday, 3 May 2007, at 8:53 am
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215. No.1 Reason to Come to Korea: Taste Korean Food
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Author : U.E.C.
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The #1 motive for foreigners visiting Korea was ¡®To taste Korean food¡¯. That¡¯s
how much Korean food sparked their interest as well as their taste buds!
Korea Tourism Organization (CEO Kim, Jong-min) released these survey results taken from foreign tourists as they departed from Korea.
Beginning from January to December of 2006, questionnaires were filled out every month at Incheon International Airport, Gimpo Airport, Gimhae Airport, Jeju Airport, Incheon Port, and Busan Port from a total of 11,453 foreign tourists who were finishing their stay in Korea. The two other main reasons for foreigners visiting Korea were ¡®work/business (42.6%)¡¯ and ¡®vacation/leisure (43.6%)¡¯. However, the motives for their visit were as follows (from multiple choice answers): ¡®to taste Korean food (49.2%), ¡®to visit since it was nearby their home country (48.9%)¡¯, ¡®to learn more about Korea (39.3%)¡¯. Also, it was reported that tourist information was obtained from the ¡®internet (52.1%)¡¯ or through ¡®friends, close acquaintances, or coworkers (51.7%)¡¯, with the average length of stay of 6.1 nights, a slight increase from last year¡¯s average of 5.7 nights.
 The place most visited by the foreign tourists was Seoul (76.8%), but with the percentage of visits to Seoul, it was seen to be decreasing every year. The following rankings of places most to least visited were Busan (18%), Incheon (13.9%), Yongin City Folk Village (12.7%), and Jeju Island (12.4%). Uniquely in 2006, Jeju Island had record visits as statistics showed a huge increase compared to recent years with a 9.3%.
Within Seoul, places most visited were Myeong-dong, Namdaemun Market, Dongdaemun Market, and old palaces respectively in the order from most visited to least visited. Old palaces (22.8%) and Myeong-dong (22.2%) received the most votes, which had lasting impressions. ¡®Old palaces¡¯ was also the most common answer among tourists from China, Thailand, America, and Europe.
Shopping (58.9%) was the leisure activity most commonly done by foreign tourists with sightseeing (56.1%) and eating (38.9%) closely following. Items most purchased by the foreigners were food (36.6%), clothes (26.0%), and Kimchi (24.7%). Popular shopping locations were the airport duty-free shops (47.6%), shopping malls (30.4%), and small shops (24.5%).
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Monday, 30 April 2007, at 11:01 am
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214. Musical ¡®Daejanggeum¡¯ Opening in Theaters on May 26
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Author : U.E.C.
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 The most popular drama in 2003, with a 55.5% audience rating, and also a big hit across Southeast Asia, Japan and China, ¡®Dae Jang Geum¡¯ is returning to its fans this time as a musical. The producers of ¡®Nanta¡¯ at PMC Production are responsible for this creative musical production, and its first performance is scheduled to be staged on May 26 at Seoul Arts Center Opera House.
¡®Dae Jang Geum¡¯ attracted much attention in Korea and overseas from the very beginning stages of its production for not only being based on the original drama, but also because it is a rare and innovative musical. The musical was created over a 2-year period with the production costs estimated around 6 billion won.
¡®Dae Jang Geum¡¯ is a musical about the life of a woman, who enters the royal palace as a ¡®saenggaksi¡¯ (a young court lady) to work in the royal kitchen, then studies medicine and becomes the first and only woman to serve as the head physician to the King. As a recognized cook in the royal palace the plot of the musical is very close to the drama in which Jang Geum is entrapped in a conspiracy in Act I of the musical. She returns in Act II as a female physician, saving the citizens from a plague and returns to the palace with dignity and honor.
The 53-part historical drama has been compressed into a 2-hours-30-minutes musical with 25 lyrical songs and classical Korean music, accompanied by Western music. The costumes are brilliant, and group dances have been included. The original plot of the story has been simplified as much as possible, and the individual scenes and episodes have been emphasized to create a structure providing realistic portrayals.
¡æ Click here for more information on the musical "Dae Jang Geum"
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Monday, 30 April 2007, at 10:56 am
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213. Korea¡¯s B-Boy ¡°Prison Break¡± Invades London
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Author : U.E.C.
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 Korea¡¯s B-Boy (a popular break dancing team) has captured British fans with their comic dance performance called ¡°Picnic¡± (entitled ¡®Break Out¡¯ in England). The non-verbal play, ¡®Picnic¡¯, was made jointly from the producer and the director of the martial arts comedy, ¡®Jump¡¯, Kim Kyung-Hoon and Baek Won-Gil, respectively. The play made its international debut in England, known for showing exceptional musicals.
¡®Picnic¡¯ is a hilarious performance where five prisoners find freedom by breaking out and finding shelter in a hospital and a convent. The prisoners (B-Boys) put on an entertaining performance dashing this way and that in a comical manner. The performers received a special ovation in a particular scene when dancers executed revolutions only supporting themselves with one hand on top of a car, while the other performers attached small doll bodies to their faces and comically wandered around in front of a tunnel backdrop during their escape from prison.
After their performance finishes on the 22nd, the B-Boys are scheduled to present their first performance of ¡®Picnic¡¯ in Korea at the Chungmu Art Hall on May 24. The B-Boys are also scheduled to participate in England¡¯s Edinburgh Festivals this August 2007.
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Thursday, 26 April 2007, at 9:12 am
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212. 2007 Hi Seoul Festival's Top 10 Attractions
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Author : U.E.C.
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Into its fifth year, the Hi Seoul Festival's opening ceremony is only a week away, and the Seoul Metropolitan City has announced the festival's top 10 attractions.
¡á Opening Ceremony 'Brilliant Fireworks & Special Performances'
April 27, 20:00~ 21:30, Specially Prepared Stage at Yeoui-do
Part 1 of the opening ceremony, entitled 'Light of Seoul, Light of the Hangang' will begin with the flying of a fire bird, whose rays light upon the parade of floating lanterns on the Han River. Part 2 will feature exciting performances by Korea¡¯s top singers including In Sooni, Lee Hyo Ri, SG Wannabe, and Psy.
¡á A Look Into the Past: Joseon Dynasty's Bukchon Village
April 27 ~ 29, 11:00~18:00, Bukchon Village, Jaedong Elementary School District
Experience the reproduction of Joseon Dynasty featuring common villages, noble villages, market places, a police bureau and more. Take a walk among the temporary Hanok structures, and partake in the variety of amusements. You can even experience exchanging currency into old money and actually do some bartering in the Joseon Dynasty-style.
¡á Walking on the Hangang River's Miracle Water Bridge
April 28 ~ May 6, 10:00~ 18:00, Nodeulseom - Ichon District
You can walk barefoot on a 300-meter long bridge, submerged at a 30 cm depth, and enjoy a feeling of walking on water. Aquatic plants will be planted along the edges of the bridge to provide the experience of leisurely walking on water.
¡á 3 Days of Cultural Performances
April 28 ~ 30, 20:00~22:00, Specially Prepared Stage at Yeoui-do
Enjoy performances by Korea's representative B-boy team and Korean classical music in harmony as 'Seoul in Motion' (April 28); a non-verbal performance of light, sound, and images, combined with percussions as ¡®Rendezvous of Light, Sound and Images¡¯ (April 29); followed by the musical gala show 'Oh, Happy Day Musical' (April 30).
¡á Reenactment of King Jeongjo¡¯s Royal Procession
April 29, 11:00~15:00
As a major event of this year's festival, the procession is a reproduction of the famous 8-day journey of King Jeongjo to his father's royal tomb in Hwaseong in 1795 to commemorate the birthday of his mother Hegyeonggung Hong. The reenactment will be held by 930 participants and 120 horses, beginning at Changdeokgung Palace, and passing through Bosingak Belfry, Namdaemun Gate, Seoul Station, Yongsan Station, the north end of Hangang Bridge, and finishing at Nodeulseom.
¡á The 1st World High Wire Championships in Seoul
May 3 ~ 5, 10:00~18:00, Seonyudo Island
18 master tightrope walkers from around the world will be crossing a single rope erected over Hangang River, in an attempt to break the world record of 400 meters, stretching a distance of 1 km. As the world's first high wire championship, this event will be broadcast to more than 120 countries through the world's biggest sports channel, ESPN.
¡á Seoul¡¯s 1st World DJ Festival
May 4, 17:00 ~ May 6, 22:00, Nanji District
As Asia¡¯s first DJ dance festival, this event is an extended version of 'Dance Mania in Seoul', last year's most popular event attracted the largest number of young people and foreign visitors. Originally held in Myeongdong, this year the event will be held in Nanji District. The 23,140§³ area of Nanji Campsite will also house a Festival Village to provide visitors a place to eat, sleep, and have fun.
¡á Arisu Miracle Festival
May 5 ~ 6, 10:00~18:00, Ttukseom & Jamsil District
If you are looking for some fun in the water, this is the place to be. The main events include a Swimming Game near the Han River, rafting, windsurfing, canoeing, water pistol games, and water slides.
¡á Seoul Historical Parade
May 6, 15:00~17:00, Jongmyo – Jongno 3(sam)-ga – Sejongno – Seoul Plaza, approximately 2.5km
The parade will feature popular historical figures from historical dramas such as Jumong and Yeongaesomun, and other significant historical figures such as King Sejong, Toegye Ihwang, Sinsaimdang, and more.
¡á Closing Ceremony
May 6, 20:00~21:30, Seoul Plaza Specially Prepared Stage
As the festival's finale, the performance by Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra is the highlight of the show. The orchestra will be performing Handel's Water Music, Strauss' Blue Danube, Choi Young Sup's Geuriun Geumgangsan, and more.
Plus!!
¡á 'Hi Seoul Festival¡¯s 2007' Hallyu Star Fashion Show
May 5, 18:30~21:30 Seoul Plaza Specially Prepared Stage
As a part of Hi Seoul Festival's 2007 program, the Hallyu Wave stars will be putting on a fashion show at Seoul Plaza on May 5. The collections of some of Seoul's major fashion designers will be presented, after which the stars will hold autograph signing sessions, along with the Seoul Fashion Promotional Ambassador appointment event. Additionally, the Hallyu stars' possessions and designer clothes will be auctioned off online, and the profits will be donated to help children with incurable diseases.
¡æ Click here for more information on the Hi Seoul Festival
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Tuesday, 24 April 2007, at 9:50 am
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211. River Cruises Offer Chance to See City from New Angle
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Author : U.E.C.
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Trapped among Seoul's high-rises but wish for a chance to let the wind blow through your hair in a wide open area?
Go to the ferry dock in Yeouido for some fresh air and a chance to discover the hidden beauty of the city.
Take Subway Line No. 5 to Yeouinaru Station. Take Exit No. 3 and keep walking for about five minutes, and you'll find Han River pleasure boats. Korea's blockbuster film "The Host" was shot in this area and around the several bridges here.
C & Hangang Land has operated cruise boats on parts of the 514-km Han River since 1986, attracting both local and foreign tourists. The company now runs a total of seven boats which shuttle passengers around seven docks -- Yeouido, Yanghwa, Sangam, Jamdubong, Jamsil, Seoul Forest and Ttukseom -- for one- or two- hour cruises every day.
 The tours include theme-oriented boats like "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Live Concert Boat" and "Jumong Boat," a boat designed to promote Korea's TV Drama ¡°Jumong – the founder of the Goguryeo Dynasty.¡± The fares start at 9,900 won for adults with children's tickets sold at half price. The 50-minute cruises run from 11:30 a.m. to 22:30 p.m. in the summer and to 20:30 p.m. in winter. Both round-trip and one-way tickets are available. The cruises are often rented out for weddings, birthday parties, music performances and even marriage proposals. The area near the Yeouido dock also offers a great date spot with several cafés and music venues.
Between March and April, Han River visitors can also enjoy the last cherry blossoms petals on the trees lining Yunjungno around the National Assembly Building in Yeouido. With more than 1,400 cherry trees, this is the best and most popular destination for cherry blossoms in Seoul. For visitors who go to the Jamsil dock, take Subway Line No. 2 and get off at Sincheon Station, take Exit No. 7 and walk about 15 minutes. For the Yanghwa dock, take Subway Line No. 2, get off at Dangsan Station, take exit No. 5 and walk 20 minutes.
[Related Articles]
Hangang Park
Take a Ride on the Hangang River Ferry Cruise
Windsurfing on the Hangang River
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Article courtesy of Korea.net
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Tuesday, 24 April 2007, at 9:44 am
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210. Incheon Committed to Winning 2014 Asian Games
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Author : U.E.C.
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 Just a few hours before the final vote to decide the 2014 Asian Games host city, the Korean port city Incheon is still working to make its bid for the international sports event turn successful on Tuesday (April 17).
¡°We may not present a surprise announcement like New Delhi. But, I believe, the most important thing is to show our sincerity to keep our words to assist the future development of the sports industry in Asia.¡± Incheon Asian Games Bid Committee Chairman Shin Yong-suk said Monday in Kuwait when the 45 members of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) will hold a General Assembly. Shin said he will attend the OCA meeting on Tuesday with hopes in mind.
In that meeting, the two bidding cities for the 2014 Asian Games -- Incheon and New Delhi – will deliver a presentation to OCA members to win more support before the final vote. Three representatives, including Incheon Mayor Ahn Sang Soo and staff from the Korea Olympics Committee and the Incheon bidding committee, will jointly deliver a 30-minute presentation to OCA members that includes a video message from President Roh Moo-hyun and Korean Minister of Culture and Tourism Kim Myung-Gon.
The Incheon mayor will promise that the city will raise $20 million to support Asian countries that have not yet won medals in the quadrennial Asian Games.
In the presentation, Inchoen, Korea's third-largest city, aims to impress the OCA members with the city's advanced sports facilities, laden with global-leading Korean IT technology, including the Munhak World Cup Stadium and Samsan Gymnasium. The city will also highlight its experience hosting previous international sports events and its location close to Japan and China and millions of international sports lovers.
Incheon's presentation will stress Korea's leading status in the sports industry as evident by the country's records in previous Asian Games and appearances by some famous Korean sports stars, including female swimmer Choi Yun-hee who won five gold medals in the 1986 Seoul Asian Games, female table tennis gold medallist Hyun Jung Hwa from the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, gold medalist male wrestler Shim Kwonho who won gold medals in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and 2000 Sydney Olympics and former taekwondo player Moon Dae Sung who won a gold medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Incheon is promoting its Vision 2014 project in which the city plans to dispatch sports experts and provide training facilities to countries with less developed sports programs if it wins the hosting rights. Incheon bidding committee staff said the city's Vision 2014 project is a long-term support program that can be implemented immediately.
Meanwhile, New Delhi is publicly offering to provide free flights and accommodation to all the participants in 2014 if it wins the bid. The successful bidder needs to secure at least 23 votes from the 45 OCA member countries.
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Article courtesy of Korea.net
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Wednesday, 18 April 2007, at 8:35 am
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209. TIC's Hanbok Event from April to December 2007
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Author : U.E.C.
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Korea Tourism Organization (CEO Kim Jong Min) is holding a regular Hanbok event from April 23 to December 23, 2007 at KTO's Tourist Information Center (TIC). This event will take place every fourth week of each month from Monday to Sunday.
This event aims to provide Korean traditional cultural experience to both foreign and local visitors. Visitors to TIC can try on a traditional Hanbok, and take photographs in front of a traditional Korean Hanok village background screen, creating an illusion of actually having visited the village. This Hanbok event is provided free-of-charge, and this event is expected to be popular due to the increasing interest in Hanboks through the success of Hallyu dramas such as Dae Jang Geum.
TIC is a visitor's complex, providing information on tourism to both foreign and local tourists. Its facilities include the Tourist Information Desk, Hallyu Hall, a travel agency, a traditional souvenir shop, an auditorium, tourist information resources, life-size Hallyu star displays, and a photo zone equipped with Hallyu star and drama backdrops.
Inquiries: Korea Tourism Organization Tourist Information Center ¢Ï02-7299-497~499
¢Ñ Direction to TIC:
- Take Subway Line #1 to Jonggak Station and go out of Exit #5 across Youngpoong Bookstore, B1 of KTO Building
- Take Subway Line #2 to Euljiro il (1)-ga Station and go out of Exit #2, walk toward Cheonggyecheon, B1 of KTO Building
¡æ About the Hanbok, Korea¡¯s Traditional Clothing
¡æ Hanbok Shopping
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Monday, 16 April 2007, at 10:12 am
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208. April Performances & Events
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Author : U.E.C.
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 B-BOY KOREA
The world¡¯s leading Korea¡¯s B-Boy is staging a spectacular performance throughout Korea. The dynamic B-Boy performance of dance and music captures the audience members. The story told by B-Boy is a well-structured brilliantly funny and heartwarming love story that ends happily. If you are looking for more than just a mere combination of dance and music, the B-Boy performance has much more excitement that will satisfy your expectations.
Venue: Chongdong B-Boy Theater
Time: Saturday 4pm & 8pm, Sunday 3pm & 8pm
Tickets: VIP Seats: £Ü50,000, S Seats: £Ü40,000
Directions: Take Subway Line #5 to Seodaemun Station and go out of Exit #5, walk about 150 meters toward Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, and then make a right at the three-way junction in front of Kyunghyang Media Group. Then walk about 20m and enter Kyunghyang Media Group building.
Inquiries: 739-8288
 Hi Seoul Festival 2007
Greeting its fifth year, 2007¡¯s Hi Seoul Festival, Seoul¡¯s major cultural festival, will be held for 10 days from April 27 to May 6 at places like Seoul Plaza, Bukchon, Hang River area as well as at some historical palaces and sites. This festival provides a great opportunity for you to immerse yourself in Korean culture.
Venue: Surrounding areas of Bukchon Village
Dates: April 27 – May 6, 2007
Description: Joseon Dynasty hands-on programs and much more
 April 14 Jajangmyeon Day
On Jajangmyeon Day, those who did not give or receive gifts on Valentine Day or White Day get together and eat jajangmyeon, because the black jajangmyeon is said to reflect their gloomy single lives. And those who usually enjoy jajangmyeon avoid having this dish if they have given or received a gift on Valentine¡¯s Day or White Day.
 Special Saturday Performances
The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts (NCKTPA) has prepared special Saturday performances. To preserve and honor Korean classical music¡¯s past and present, NCKTPA is staging creative works that have remained true to the original, traditional form. The performances offer a well-rounded variety of Korean classical music genres including royal court music, folk music, creative music, and dance. Any one of the performances will be an experience of the very essence of traditional music and dance, providing the audience with a great opportunity to get a taste of a wide range of Korean traditional music.
Venue: NCKTPA Yeakdang
Period: Until December 15
Time: Every Saturday afternoon from 5pm – 6:20 pm
Tickets: A Seats £Ü10,000 / B Seats £Ü8,000
Directions: Take Subway Line #2 to Bangbae Station and go out of Exit #1, transfer onto the Green Bus #07, #15, or #17 headed for Seocho.
Subway Line #7 Naebang Station Exit #3, transfer onto the Green Bus Seocho #07, or Seocho #15
Shuttle bus services are available after the performance (Bus Route: Seocho Station ¡æ Seoul National University of Education Station ¡æ Nambu Bus Terminal Station)
Inquiries: 580-3333
 Lee Eun Gyeol Magic V Show
Lee Eun Gyeol¡¯s magic show is coming soon. This magic show is a combination of amazing and surprising magic and Lee Eun Gyeol¡¯s wit, providing more than just magical fun. It is more of a concert rather than a simple magic show. The show is the right place to visit and enjoy fun new magic.
Venue: Chungmu Art Hall
Period: April 26 – April 29
Times: Thursdays & Fridays: 8 pm, Saturdays & Sundays: 3 pm & 7 pm
Tickets: R Seats £Ü70,000 / S Seats £Ü50,000 / A Seats £Ü30,000
Directions: Take Subway Line #2, #4 or #5 to Dongdaemun Stadium Station and go out of Exit #3, walk about 150m toward Shindang intersection.
Inquiries: 516-1501
 Retrospective Exhibition of Pop Artist, Andy Warhol
Samsung Leeum Museum, in collaboration with Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburg, are presenting the Andy Warhol Factory exhibition, commemorating the master of Pop Art Andy Warhol from March 15 to June 10, 2007. Andy Warhol encompasses both pop art and pure art, a leading revolutionary in the world of art, whose works influenced not only art, but also movies, photography, design, and commercial advertisements. Andy Warhol touched all areas of visual arts. This exhibition is also significant in that it is the very first Time for an exhibition on Andy Warhol and his art to be held in Korea.
Venue: Leeum Museum
Period: From March 15, 2007
Museum Hours: 10:30~18:00 (Closed on Mondays, Extended Hours on Thursdays to 21:00 pm)
Admissions: Adults £Ü7,000 / Students (Elementary to High School) £Ü4,000
Directions: Take Subway Line #6 to Hangangjin Station and go out of Exit #1, transfer to Bus #110, or #0014 and get off at Hangangjin stop.
Inquiries: 2014-6901
Website: www.leeum.org
 Samcheonggak Fusion Music Concert
At the traditional cultural center referred to as Samcheonggak, a fusion music concert is being staged. This new permanent concert has been created to reflect the features of the spring season. The harmony created by the lively and energetic fusion music arrangement expressing the spring season through the Korean classical musicians is something to anticipate.
Venue: Samcheonggak Yepuri
Period: From March 1, 2007
Inquiries: 3676-3456
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Monday, 16 April 2007, at 9:55 am
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207. Looking Behind the 2012 Yeosu Expo Inspection
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Author : U.E.C.
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 Korea's south coast port city Yeosu, one of the three candidates to host the 2012 World Expo, will undergo a crucial inspection from Wednesday to Friday (April 11-13).
The seven-member delegation from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris is to reach Jeollanamdo (South Jeolla Province) on Wednesday (April 11) to inspect the site. Yeosu officials and residents are eager to host the World Expo, the longest running of the three largest regular international events together with the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup.
Brief history
The history of the World Expo dates back to the mid-19th century. Trade was flourishing between countries. But in an age before the advent of mass media, jet travel and telecommunications, there was a strong need to bring together various business ideas and products to compare, contrast and evaluate.
The first World Exposition took place in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, in 1851 under the title ¡°Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations.¡± Since then, a total 105 expositions have taken place -- the most recent at Aichi, Japan, in 2005.
In 1893, Emperor Gojong (1852-1919) dispatched Korea's first World Expo delegation, sending two delegates and 10 traditional musicians to the Chicago World's Fair. The Korean pavilion included a traditional Hanok house and various items such as gwanbok (Hanbok for noblemen), pottery, fans and armor.
To prevent the rapidly growing number of unofficial trade fairs from marring the World Expo's
reputation, representatives from 31 nations gathered in Paris in 1928 and established the Bureau International des Expositions, which still regulates the frequency and quality of exhibitions. A strict inspection process was adopted for hosting the World Expo, and the Chicago Expo "The Century of Progress International Exposition" in 1933 became the first to pass that test.
BIE General Assembly and Yeosu
Official World Expos fall into two categories: International Registered Exhibitions (Universal Expos) and International Recognized Exhibitions (Thematic or International Expos). Universal Expos, the larger of the two, come every five years and last around six months. The participants themselves design and build their own pavilions. Modern expos have become a chance for countries and companies to show of their technical and design prowess in the hopes of furthering their reputations and business contacts.
Yeosu is bidding to host an International Expo. The BIE awards such expos to one city looking to establish itself on the international arena. This type of expo must fall between two Universal Expos and last around three months. The host city provides participants rent-free modules within a large complex and exhibitions are all centered on a set theme. Yeosu has chosen the theme "The Living Ocean and Coast: Diversity of Resources and Sustainable Activities."
Yeosu's first expo bid was for the 2010 Universal Expo. Having lost out to Shanghai, the city turned its focus on securing the forthcoming International Expo. Another Korean city, Daejeon hosted the 1993 International Expo, which emphasized technology and science.
The BIE is currently composed of 98 member nations: 36 from Europe, 25 from Latin America, 12 from Asia, 8 from the Middle East, 14 from Africa and 3 from Oceania. The Republic of Korea joined in 1983.
The election for the BIE General Assembly takes place twice a year in June and December. The BIE president, currently Wu Jianmin from China, is elected by the General Assembly and serves for two years.
After receiving approved bids, the BIE conducts a six-month study. This includes the type of week-long, on-site inspection that the BIE team is now carrying out in Yeosu. Its head is Carmen Sylvain, BIE vice president and chairperson of the BIE Executive Committee.
Yeosu hopes to host the 2012 Expo from May 12 to Aug. 12. The other two rivals are Tangier of Morocco and Wroclaw of Poland.
Yeosu's bidding committee plans to show off the city's new port facility with its 250,000-square-meter display area, 720,000 square meters of accommodations, and 440,000-square-meter parking area. The port and Expo are expected to attract nearly 8 million visitors, with 430,000 coming from overseas.
To gear up, the government has so far allocated just over 540 billion won to upgrade railway and road links between Suncheon and Yeosu and complete other infrastructure projects. It will pour another 425 billion won in social overhead capital next year. Korean President Roh Moo-hyun pledged to spare no effort to support Yeosu's bid to host the 2012 World Expo in an address on state affairs delivered to the National Assembly last November.
Should Yeosu be successful, the Korean Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade estimates
that the Expo would generate production worth over 10 trillion won and another 4 trillion won of added value for the city. It would also create jobs for over 90,000 in the region, the institute said.
The BIE General Assembly will vote this November. The country that wins two thirds of the vote will be the winner. If no country sweeps the vote, a second vote will take place between the top two countries.
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Article courtesy of Korea.net
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Friday, 13 April 2007, at 8:38 am
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