By Lee Hyo-sik
With only two days to go before the Nov. 12 (KST) announcement, the country’s southern resort island of Jeju is making last-minute efforts to be selected as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature by appealing for both Koreans and foreigners to vote.
Hopes are running high for the island to come out as a winner as it is currently among the top 10. In anxious anticipation, Jeju campaigners say it is too early to be confident, asking Koreans here and overseas, as well as foreign nationals to cast a ballet for the island.
The contest has been organized by a Swiss-based nonprofit organization, New7Wonders, since 2007 in an attempt to raise awareness of environmental preservation under the campaign “Our Heritage Is Our Future.”
The organization announced Sunday that Jeju is one of the top 10 candidates that received the most votes, along with the Grand Canyon in the United States, the Great Barrier Reef off Australia and seven other destinations around the globe. On Dec. 31, the island made it to the final round by becoming one of the 28 finalists out of 440 preliminary contenders.
``Even though Jeju is among the top 10 contenders at the moment, it is still uncertain whether it will be in the top seven. With our competitors also making last pitches, we strongly encourage the public to vote for the island,’’ said an official at the National Committee for Jeju New7Wonders of Nature.
Those who want to vote for Jeju can do so online at (www.new7wonders.com) or by calling 001-1588-7715. The voting will close at 4:07 a.m. Saturday (KST).
Former Prime Minister Chung Un-chan, chairman of the National Committee for Jeju New7Wonders of Nature, and Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Woo Keun-min released a joint statement Monday, appealing one more time for the public to cast a vote for the island.
They said if crowned a New7Wonders of Nature, the island will enjoy substantial benefits which will last from generation to generation, adding it will stimulate tourism and upgrade the prestige and brand image of South Korea.
The state-run Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) will continue campaigning for Jeju at the World Tourism Mart 2011 held in London from Nov. 8 to today. Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors, and other corporate sponsors have been holding a series of promotional events offering a range of gifts to customers who vote for Jeju.