News feature: Six days of Korea’s sincerity, splendor and spell

PAGADIAN CITY, Oct 12 (PIA) -- The ASEAN-Korea Centre has invited three (3) media professionals from each 10 ASEAN Member State to participate in the ASEAN media people’s visit to Korea. The visit is aimed at increasing the bilateral media partnership and providing information on Korea’s foreign and cultural policies towards ASEAN, and marketing strategies on the Korean wave or ‘hallyu.’

The ASEAN-Korea Centre toured the 32 delegates to the Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), Seoul Metropolitan Government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT), Korean Tourism Organization, Korea Creative Contents Agency, JoongAng Media Network and Posco Research Institute.

Noemi Edaga, Philippine Information Agency regional director for Region 9 was among the delegates.

A visit was also made by the group to the ASEAN-Korea Centre – whose mandate is to increase trade volume, accelerate investment flow, invigorate tourism, and enrich cultural exchanges with emphasis on increasing people-to-people contact between the Republic of Korea and the 10 ASEAN Member States - Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The cultural tour to Gyeongju – a special city that preserved the history and culture of the Silla period and the basis of the Korean culture brought Korea’s history to the consciousness of the delegates as the tour guide brought them back to the historic Silla Dynasty in 57 B.C. to 935 A.D. where 56 kings ruled.

The group found spectacular the scenic Anapji Pond where Korean soaps are shot.

The pagodas and temples at Bulguksa and Seokguram presented a wide array of valuable treasures. Some of which were, sad to note, stolen but good enough that some were restored and renovated for worship and heritage.

The visit was not complete without the delegates’ shopping and sight-seeing in Myeongdong, at the primary shopping district in Seoul and in Itaewon, one of the most popular areas in Seoul for tourists.

The six-day-visit offered the delegates not only the sincerity of its people but also a glimpse of Korea’s splendor and spell as well as the opportunity to strengthen ASEAN bond through people-to-people contact among ASEAN. ( NBE/PIA9)

Sourced: pia