SEOUL SPREADS MESSAGE OF WELCOME TO THE WORLD
Signature events for the World Design Capital
during 'Visit Korea Year 2010'
Throughout 2010, Seoul is showing innovative and comprehensive tourism programs showcasing the city's assets as the inaugural venue for the national tourism campaign "Visit Korea 2010-2012". Central to Seoul's message this year: design, green tourism and Korean cuisine.
In addition, the city has been designated 'World Design Capital 2010', an award given to cities that produce up-to-date architecture conscious of its cultural roots, economically-viable and environmentally-sustainable-all key factors for which Seoul was praised by the WDC, the council of international designers who selected the capital. The 3rd annual Seoul Design Olympiad, under the theme 'Design For All', will be the prime event to showcase Seoul's achievements, wherein citizens can participate in a variety of activities designed to help them better appreciate and celebrate the city's design legacy and future plans.
The city is also rediscovering its green roots, with projects all across the metropolis aimed at transforming the city into an environmentally friendly and sustainable habitat for all. Many such projects are already either completed or at advanced stages, including the Hangang River Renaissance Project, tasked with restoring the city's waterways and riverside areas into parks and natural environments that can be enjoyed by all. So successful have these initiatives been that the United Nations World Tourism Organization is paying close attention to the city, using it as a case study for ways in which cities worldwide can become environmentally sustainable in the 21st Century.
Korean cuisine was showcased to great effect at last November's 'Amazing Korean Table', in which food lovers and culinary professionals, including celebrity chefs worldwide were able to sample the finest of Korea's cuisine, raising its profile on the world stage. In addition, restaurant review guide Zagat Survey issued their first Seoul edition, with founders Tim and Nina Sagat praising Seoul for becoming an exciting and world class culinary destination and hoping their new guide will further bring Korean cuisine to the world. The Amazing Korean Table will return in 2010, with the dates yet to be announced.
With the city of Seoul hosting the 5th G-20 summit on November 11-12, a variety of additional tourism programs and initiatives are being made available to visitors throughout the year, ranging from enhanced information facilities such as the U-Tour program, to volunteer guides present at the city's major tourism destinations on hand to provide English support as needed, as well as increased public transport with additional English services available.
A multitude of high-profile events celebrating Seoul's legacy and rise on the world stage in 2010 will see the city gaining an even greater international foothold than ever before.
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