ICME-12: 7 Reasons to visit Seoul and Korea
Seoul,
the capital of Korea, receives ICME-12 in its Convention & Exhibition
Center-COEX. ICME-12 will certainly be a
huge scientific and social success but the city and the country are also worth
visiting. Let's see the main reasons to visit Seoul and Korea.
1. Korean boyangsik food
Korean people often say that "good
food has magical powers." To keep in shape, no medicine beats a
fine-cooked meal. This belief is well reflected in Korea's boyangsik
food, which literally means food that invigorates the body. The most popular boyangsik foods in Korea are those that come in a
meat-based broth like samgyetang, seolleongtang,
and gomtang. In terms of Oriental medicine, boyangsik food replenishes the body, helps circulate energy, and balances the ying
and the yang. Traditionally, boyangsik was consumed
to maintain body balance (especially during the changing seasons), or to
replenish the body in times of weakness. Nowadays, it is consumed throughout
the year regardless of the season. Try
some of the popular Korean boyangsik foods for its
great taste and healthy benefits. And you should not forget Soju, a distilled beverage native to Korea.
2. Myeong-dong
is all about shopping!
From the towering super stores of Milrione, Lotte Department Store, Avatar and High Harriet to the
cozy, mom-and-pop shops lining the sidestep, Myeong-dong has something for everyone. Whether the search is for accessories, athletic wear,
shoes, boots or a number of other mid-to-high priced items, you'll find it all
here. With the main streets boasting larger, well-known stores, many of the
better bargains are to be found at some of the discount stores that require a
little walking to get to. All this selection of styles and sizes, coupled with
the freedom of strolling in the open-air make Myeong-dong a shopping destination not to be missed and an
adventure sure to be remembered.
2. Seoul: Towering High
into a Bright Future
Korean capital city, Seoul, is located in the Midwest of the Korean peninsula.
It has been an area of strategic importance since prehistoric times,
particularly in the realms of politics, economics, society and culture. During
the Era of the Three States (4th to mid-7th centuries), the area was frequently
used as a battleground among the ancient ruling kingdoms of Goguryeo,
Baekje and Silla. It was designated as Korea's capital city
during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). In 1945,
the city was named Seoul, which means 'towering high.' It is home to more than
10 million inhabitants.
4. UNESCO World Cultural
Heritage
In the heart of
Seoul stands a royal palace designated as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, Changdeokgung Palace. The Joseon Dynasty built "Five Grand Palaces" in
Seoul: Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung,
Deoksugung, Gyeongbokgung
and Gyeonghuigung, all of which are located in the
district of Jongno-gu and Jung-gu.
Asia's largest underground street shopping mall lies near the 15th century
royal tombs. Namdaemun, officially the Sungnyemun, is a historic pagoda-style gateway located in
the center of Seoul. The gate, which was begun in the 14th century, is now
listed first among the National Treasures of South Korea. The historic 24-hour Namdaemun market is next to the gate where it has been
operating for centuries.
5. Jeju:
Volcanic Island Designated as a World Natural Heritage
The southernmost territory of Korea, the Jeju Special
Self-Governing Province is a volcanic island created by eruptions millions of
years ago. It is Korea's largest island and an international destination with
fascinating natural landscapes and academic value. In October 2010, nine geological sites in Jeju
Island received recognition as UNESCO Global Geoparks
from the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network (GGN). The Jeju sites became the first in Korea to earn this
recognition, and with it, Jeju becomes the only place
in the world with three UNESCO certifications, following its Biosphere Reserve
and UNESCO World Heritage Site designations in 2002 and 2007, respectively. The
nine Jeju sites designated as Global Geoparks include Hallasan
Mountain, Seongsan Ilchulbong
Peak, and Manjanggul Cave.
6. Gyeongju : Treasure Trove of
UNESCO World Cultural Heritage
Gyeongju, located in southeast Korea, was the capital
of the Silla Kingdom for 992 years (BC 57-935), the
longest surviving kingdom in the history of Korea. Not only is it astounding
that it was ruled by 56 kings spanning a period of almost a thousand years. Gyeongju still shines today, more than a millennium after
the kingdom's demise. Buddhism was introduced in Silla
in the 6th century and played a significant role in strengthening royal
authority and unifying the people, becoming the foundation of the area's art,
tradition, and culture. Consequently, Gyeongju is the home of the greatest Buddhist art treasures
in Korea, and is the nation's most popular field trip destination. Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram
Grotto are Gyeonju's most celebrated relics and are
said to capture the essence of the Korean Buddhist culture. Gyeongju
is a virtual cornucopia of history, meriting praise and preservation worldwide.
7. The World's Oldest
and Most Complete Buddhist
Scriptures: UNESCO Memory of the World Register The Tripitaka
Koreana (Goryeo Dynasty Tripitaka) are the world's only extant collection of wooden
printing blocks for the Buddhist scriptures that are written in classical
Chinese. Stored in the buildings of Janggyeong Panjeon Hall in Haeinsa Temple in
Gyeongsangnam-do province, the Tripitaka
Koreana was completed by scribes between 1236 and
1251. It is recognized as the most comprehensive example of the woodblock
printing technique in all known Buddhist scriptures of that time. The Goryeo Dynasty Tripitaka is a
priceless example of the early woodblock printing technique. Lacquered using sap from the lacquer tree, the woodblocks have excellent
durability and can still print crisp copies 760 years after their creation. The total 87,000 woodblocks that make up the
Goryeo Dynasty Tripitaka
record nearly the entire collection of Buddhist scriptures that exist in Asia. Based on
the value of their content and the excellent state in which they have been
preserved, they were listed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in June
2007.
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