Royal Asiatic Society to Tour Goseong Dinosaur Expo
By John Redmond
Contributing Writer
The Korean Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) is to conduct a tour of the Goseong Dinosaur World Expo on May 23, leaving from Yongsan Post Office at 8 a.m.
Goseong, South Gyeongsang Province, is an area where dinosaur fossil sites formed in the Cretaceous Period of the Mesozoic Era. Remains are scattered around, traces of fossilized dinosaurs are found in old rocks and enormous footprints can still be seen.
The expo will provide a variety of attractions and educational activities, and show dinosaur fossils, eggs and footprints on the theme of ``the Amazing Dinosaur World: Where Imagination Comes to Life'' at the main event venue.
At the main venue at Danghangpo, the expo will set up a total of 15 booths, including a theme room showcasing the main theme, a ``Mesozoic Era Dinosaur Hall,'' a ``Dinosaur Footprint Fossils of the Korean Peninsula Hall'' and a ``World Fossil Discovery Experience Hall.''
The RAS will be traveling to southern Korea on this, the second of their family-oriented tours. The expo is inspired by enormous dinosaur footprints still to be found in the area, and offers a number of attractions and educational activities. Both adults without children and families are invited to join us on this tour.
The trip will take from 4 to 5 hours as there are a couple of short stops planned to break up the ride for children. The bus is to leave at 8 a.m. Saturday from Yongsan Post Office (Shinyongsan subway station on the Blue Line). Departure from Goseong is scheduled for 4 p.m.
``On arrival, we will head for our hotel and check in so that you are free to come and go as you wish over the weekend. Following check-in, our bus will take us to the expo site. Those who wish to come along a little later will be able to enter individually (we don't have to go in and out as a group)," the group said in a press release.
The cost is expected to be 155,000 won for adults (RAS members) and 100,000 won for members' children. For non-members, the cost is expected to be 175,000 won for adults and 120,000 won for children.
The prices include transportation, accommodation (based on double occupancy) and admission to the expo grounds. Meals are not included nor are expo events or activities other than admission fees.
At the expo, visitors can see a dinosaur parade and a musical showing the wedding of a female grass-eating dinosaur and a male meat-eating dinosaur at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. every day.
Other sideline events include the dinosaur robot Olympics, national surfing competition, the Goseong Dinosaur Land mountain-climbing festival and an academic symposium where scholars and paleontologists from Korea, China, Japan, Mongolia, the United States and the Netherlands will gather to discuss dinosaurs that once lived in Korea.
For more information on the expo, visit https://dino-expo.com. Further information on the trip is available by contacting raskb@kornet.net, telephoning 02-763-9483 or visiting https://www.raskb.com.