By Kim Rahn
It’s time for “samgyetang” (chicken soup with ginseng).
In May, about 8,000 tourists visiting in groups from China will enjoy the traditional Korean dish along the Han River in Seoul along with a concert, following a similar event that took place in Incheon in March when a group of 4,500 employees of China’s Aurance Group on an incentive trip here had a chicken and beer party.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that 8,000 employees of Zhongmai Group, a healthcare product seller, will come here for an incentive trip. They will arrive in two groups of 4,000 each. The first group will arrive on May 5 and the second group, on May 9, each for five-day tours.
For each group, the city government will prepare a samgyetang party in Banpo Hangang Park, the first on May 6 and the second on 10. After the meal, a concert will be held with songs featured in the famous soap opera “Descendants of the Sun,” performed by singers Gummy, Lyn and K.will.
“When Mayor Park Won-soon visited Beijing last August to promote Seoul’s tourism after it was hit hard by Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, he promised to treat incentive tourists to a meal and a concert. The samgyetang party is the promise being kept,” a city official said.
The city will prepare 400 tables each for 10 people, 4,000 bowls of samgyetang, ginseng liquor, beer and kimchi.
Samgyetang was recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, which has been working to export the delicacy to China. Its export is likely to start as early as June. The Korea Broiler Council will provide 8,000 chickens for the event.
The Zhongmai employees will come to Korea via 34 planes, stay at 16 hotels and ride 100 buses to visit major tourist attractions in the capital. “We have secured enough bus parking lots. We’ll also have additional traffic police officers stationed at major roads,” the official said.
“We’ll try to keep offering tailored support and programs to such large-size tour groups.”