Gyeongju Expo to revive Sillas vibrant culture
By Lee Hyo-won
Brilliant golden crowns, astronomical observatories and stone pagodas reaching toward the heavens — the rich culture of the ancient Silla Kingdom (B.C. 57-A.D. 935) continues to inspire epic TV dramas and even a teddy bear collection. Upcoming, this summer and fall an international expo will allow visitors to relive history.
Beginning Aug. 12, the 6th Gyeongju World Culture Expo will have a two-month run in the southern city.
The event will be held in conjunction with the 2011 Daegu World Championships in Athletics, which will take place from Aug. 27 to Sept. 4. Athletes and tourists from both near and fall will be able to enjoy the neighboring events, said the Organizing Committee for the Gyeongju World Culture Expo.
The culture expo has attracted as many as 8.5 million visitors since launching in 1998 and organizers expect the number to reach 10 million this year.
Under the theme “The Story of Millennium — Love, Light and Nature,” the event will feature performances and multimedia shows ranging from b-boy sequences to a parade celebrating Queen Seondeok. TV drama fans may be familiar with the queen, who was the kingdom’s first female ruler.
The lineup includes more than 20 different kinds of content in more than 100 individual events targeting different age groups. Families can enjoy street shows while young adults might take an interest in the dance festival for university students.
There will also be special corners for children. “Silla, the Millennium Kingdom” will exhibit animation characters, traditional puppets and fossils from around the world.
A highlight of the expo will be a visual image show showcasing 3D animation. Titled “Byeongnucheon” (The Bracelet of Blue Tears), the film is the fifth of its kind commissioned by the expo. The fantasy is about Queen Seondeok’s efforts to protect Silla from the evil King Banegnyeong, who schemes to destroy the world in order to turn it into a home for dragons.
The 82-meter-high Gyeongju Tower will be the centerpiece for another multimedia show that revives “the moonlit night of Silla.” The tower is a blown up replica of the Nine-story Pagoda at Hwangnyong Temple, one of Gyeongju’s treasured relics.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to try on elongated silk Silla costumes often seen in period dramas. Other sideline events include engraving one’s name on a brick to build a 15-meter “dokkabi bridge.”
The expo will be held for 60 days from Aug. 12 to Oct. 10 at the Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park and other venues around the city.
Ticket information
Admission is 6,000 won for children aged 4 to 11; 8,000 won for students aged 12 to 17 and 12,000 won for adults. The box office opens May 2 and visitors can save up to 30 percent by buying tickets in advance. Those who purchase before Aug. 7 will be entitled to a 20 percent discount and can receive an additional 15 percent off for groups of 20 or more.
Visitors should also hold onto their tickets to enjoy savings at nearby resorts and sites during the course of the expo, including Gyeongju World, the Teddy Bear Museum, California Beach and hotels.
For more information visit cultureexpo.or.kr or call 1588-7890.