Korea-Unique Tourism Plan Unveiled

By Kim Rahn
Staff Report, Korea Times

Royal palaces will be open to visitors and tour programs involving traditional and eastern religious cultures will be developed in a government effort to develop more “Korean-style” tourism programs.

The government announced a long-overdue plan to develop Korea’s unique cultural, historical, and ecological resources into tourism attractions at a meeting of the Presidential Council on National Competitiveness and 18 related ministries and government organizations on  Friday.

Restricted areas in five major places in downtown Seoul — Gyeongbok, Changdeok, Changgyeong, Gyeonghee and Deoksu– will be opened to the public one at a time in 2010.  Also a package ticket for admission to all five and a {DA guide will be available.

Geongbok Palace will be a venue to introduce Korea’s court ceremonies, while other various traditional ceremonies and traditional customs will be reenacted at other palaces.

The government will also develop religious-related programs such as temple stays, lotus lantern festivals, sutra recitals, and Confucian school stays. A Zen Buddhism center will be set up in central Seoul.

…more on the story from Korea Times