2nd T.20 Ministers’ Meeting in Buyeo

The global tourism gathering to take up issues such as tourism as a driver of economic recovery, social and environmental change

The T.20 is a members-driven initiative with the full support of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The initiative emerged in response to the Roadmap for Recovery and is aimed primarily at discussing tourism’s valuable contribution to global economic recovery and the long-term ‘green’ transformation.
The issues to be taken up at the meeting are: * The position of tourism as a driver of economic, social and environmental change. * Exploring the potential for tourism and travel to support the economic recovery as well as the long-term transformation to a green economy. * To better articulate and communicate the economic and development case for tourism. * The mainstream travel and tourism sector’s voice in the global agenda by building a more effective voice. * Mobilize a collective effort among tourism ministers towards building a sensible tourism policy framework that will help influence country-level, as well as international, economic and development policies.
The meeting is scheduled for Oct. 11-13 in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province. Minister Yu In-chon of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said in February 2009, the UNWTO proclaimed “tourism is a reliable tool for job creation, short-term stimulus action for the global economy and a longer-term transformation to a green economy” and relayed this message to the G20 leaders. In addition, as the global economic downturn placed the issue of “sustainable and balanced growth of the global economy” at the center of the global debate, there is growing attention towards the tourism industry.
With this in mind, he said, the 1st T.20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, to engage in vital discussions regarding the role of tourism in this global economic crisis with the presence of G20 tourism ministers and representatives of international and regional organizations, the minister said.
He said he believes that there will be an active dialogue concerning the roles of T.20 countries and concrete measures for global economic recovery and development during the 2nd T.20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting, which is to be held in Buyeo, Korea. He said he expects that the meeting will produce meaningful outcomes and will also be a platform to engage in important discourse involving E-tourism as the new tourism brand of the new era.
The Korean government announced its national vision of ‘Low-Carbon, Green Growth’ in August 2008, particularly in efforts to strengthen the competitiveness of the tourism industry as the major driving force of the nation, the government has put forward diverse policies by strengthening the national brand, implementing the 2010-2012 Visit Korea Year campaign as well as green tourism projects, which include the restoration of four major rivers in Korea.
The minister said the 21st century has moved beyond the era of selling products and is said to be the era of promoting culture, and he is fully convinced the 2nd T.20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting will reaffirm that tourism is the industry bringing together people from all backgrounds, traditions and customs through cultivating a healthy mutual understanding by placing the experience of exchanging cultures with one another at the forefront.
The Korean government will continue to strive toward making Korea a leading nation in global tourism and economic development and is committed to the global partnership for bringing these goals to fruition. He said he would like to ask the participants for kind attention and support to the T.20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting, a meeting that seeks continuous prosperity and cooperation not only among T.20 countries, but also in the global community as well.
The Korean government aims to send out a joint message on the importance of the tourism industry’s role in the economy at the upcoming meeting and present it at the G20 Summit in Seoul.
The government also plans to work to have the T.20 meeting to declare a four-point policy goal under the “T.20 Buyeo Declaration.” The four policy goals include a joint sharing of economic prosperity through tourism; the promotion of a green economy; promotion of diversification of social and cultural aspects in tourism; and providing support to underdeveloped countries through tourism.
The ministerial meeting is being looked upon as an opportunity to introduced Korea’s traditional culture. The traditional Korean architecture will be recreated along with traditional music and dance at official functions during the event at such locations as galleries and resorts and the ancient Baekje Kingdom’s Sabi Palace in the Baekje Cultural Complex and other ancient traditional structures in Buyeo and Gongju.
The traditional Korean cuisine will be introduced to the tourism ministers and their assistants participating in the meeting, along with the Korean history and cultural tourism programs in such cities as Buyeo, Gongju and Seoul. They will also be presented with Hallyu contents including the DVD of the Daejanggeum, a TV drama on the Joseon Dynasty royalty, and lacquer ware inlaid with mother of pearl, among others.
The government will focus on the intensification of media reports on the global tourism meeting to drum up the importance of tourism on the economy under the slogan of “Tourism, the Key Driver of Shared Growth” to create jobs, improve the quality of living, and promote the joint growth of both advanced and emerging nations.
The government expects a number of good results from the meeting. The meeting is hoped to play the role of a bridge linking advanced and emerging nations in finding ways to grow together; the T.20 will be a leading force in forging international cooperation on invigorating global tourism and exchange through the Buyeo Declaration; it expects Korea to emerge as a top location to hold MICE meetings; and to boost the prestige of Korea with its traditional culture widely publicized, along with the regional image during the Buyeo tourism ministers’ meeting.
The T-20 nations include the United States, Russia, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, China, South Korea, Britain and Spain, among others. Thailand and Malaysia have been invited as observer nations to the meeting.

Baekje Heritage to Enchant Visitors
Buyeo and Gongju offer fascinating tourism content
Buyeo, the venue of the second T.20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting, and Gongju boast an array of tourism attractions including cultural properties from the Baekje Kingdom. Here is a look at tourism attractions, some of which are included on the technical tour for the participants of the conference.
BAEKJE WORLD FEST ― Attracting much attention from foreign visitors is the 2010 Great Baekje World Festival, which gets under way for a 30-day run from Sept. 18 through Oct. 17 under the theme “Revival of Great Baekje 1,400 Years Later.”
The Great Baekje World Festival dates back to 1955 when Buyeo area community leaders offered a ritual service to the top three loyal subjects ― Sung Chung, Heung Soo and Gyaebek ― as well as a ritual to comfort the souls of Baekje women who threw themselves to their deaths off the Nakwhaam Rock into the Baegma River in the presence of invading enemies during the late period of the Baekje Kingdom.
The festival is evolving into a full-fledged global fest by reestablishing historical facts of the Baekje Kingdom that remained hidden in history and shedding new light on the glorious cultural heritage of the kingdom.

On-the-water performances, the main programs of the festival, present mystical storylines with the Geum and Baegma rivers as the backdrop, the essence of Baekje cultural heritage. The aquatic performance “The Tale of Sama” is to be staged at the Gomanaru Ferry in Gongju. It is a story about Baekje’s rise under Sama (King Muryeong) as a maritime superpower and the expansion of its territory. The performance is a wondrous one with seven layers of stage space and the Geum River as its backdrop, large-scale military dancing, action and special effects.
The on-the-water performance “Sabi Mir” is being staged at Nakhwaam Rock in Buyeo. The performance reenacts the beauty of Baekje culture, exciting epic stories and spectacular attractions. About 200 specialized actors and actresses perform with the scenic Baegma River as the backdrop along with such special effects as new media art.
There are enough good programs to match everybody’s expectations. They include the “A Day in Sabigung Palace” program, which takes place at the Baekje palace in Buyeo; the “A Day in Ungjinseong Fortress” program, which reenacts the Baekje lifestyle; the “Great Baekje Exchange Parade,” a parade describing the prosperity and peace of Great Baekje; the “Great Baekje Cavalcade,” employing 123 horses and 100 solders to demonstrate the Baekje people’s vigorous bravery; and the reenactment of the “Hwangsanbeol Battle,” a historic battle pitting 5,000 Baekje solders against 50,000 Shilla troopers.
TOURISM ATTRACTIONS GALORE ― There are a plenty of tourist attractions reminiscent of the history of Baekje in these areas. In Gongju City, there are the King Muryeong Tombs containing the remains of the 25th king of Baekje and his queen; the Gongsanseong Fortress used to protect the capital against invaders during the Ungjin era; and Mt. Gyeryong, one of the nation’s scenic and fascinating mountains.
The discovery of the King Muryeong Tombs, with numerous historical relics, including 12 treasures, served as a historic moment to vindicate the excellent caliber and the exact chronology of Baekje culture, arts and crafts.
Among the must-see tourism attractions in the area are the Buyeo National Museum and Gongju National Museum. The Buyeo National Museum has 10,000 relics that were discovered at various historic sites. There is a prehistoric exhibit centered on the Bronze Age, a historic exhibit with Baekje relics, a Buddhism and art exhibit, an outdoor exhibit area and the Prof. Park Man-sik commemorative exhibit. The Gongju National Museum displays mainly relics from the period when Gongju was the capital of Baekje, especially relics excavated from the tomb of King Muryeong. It has two exhibition halls. The first exhibition hall displays the model tomb in the same size as the tomb of King Muryeong and relics from the tomb to enable people to see the inside of the tomb. The second exhibition hall displays relics excavated in the Chungcheongnam-do area by age.
The Gongsanseong Fortress was built to protect Gongju, the capital of Baekje, during the 64-year Ungjin Era (the reign of King Munju through King Seong). Visitors to the fortress can appreciate the changing of the guard ceremony of the Baekje era, the Ssangsu Pavilion, the Gwangbokru Tower and other attractions. Mt. Gyeryong, known as Jungak, a mid-sized jewel in the province during the Joseon Dynasty, has ancient time-honored temples, including Gap Temple and Donghak Temple.
To name some major attractions in Buyeo County, there are Nakhwaam Rock, Gungnamji Pond and the 5-story stone pagoda of the Jeongnim Temple Site, which is a valuable treasure for the genealogy of Korean stone-made pagodas, along with the stone pagoda of Mireuksa Temple site. Nakhwaam Rock is a place known for containing the souls of 3,000 Baekje women who jumped to their deaths off a cliff when faced with an invading Japanese army. The Goran Temple has a mineral spring famous as a place frequented by Baekje kings. There is also the hwangpodokdae ride, a traditional Korean style of boat ride, along the Baegma River, which attracts many tourists. The Gungnamgi Pond is the oldest one in Korea, built in 634 during the 35th year of the reign of King Mu. The Jeongnim Temple Site 5-story stone pagoda is National Treasure No. 9, representing the beauty of traditional Korean stone pagodas inheriting traditional wooden pagoda patterns.
MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES ― The participants of the conference will be given an opportunity to experience all things traditional ― trying on the royal garments of Baekje; making rice cake; hanging wish-lamps; and riding the Gomduri Train. Visitors can try on the Baekje kings’ traditional Korean garments and also take pictures. They will tour an exhibition of traditional Korean rice cake making and can participate in rice cake making with a wooden hammer. Visitors can offer their wishes by hanging “wish-lamps” while they sightsee from the Gomduri Train.

Pre- and post-meeting tour programs
Technical Tour to Buyeo & Gongju
Buyeo City tour
Dates : Oct. 11 between 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Oct. 14 between 3:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Route : Departure from hotel → Buyeo National Museum (1hr) → Five-story Stone Pagoda of Jeongnim Temple Site (30 min) → Korea Ginseng Corp. (90min) → arrival at hotel
Gongju City tour
Date : Oct. 11 between 8:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Route : Depart Hotel → 2010 Great Baekje World Festival (80min) → Gongju National Museum (40min) → Gongsanseong Fortress (90min) → Hanging wish-lamps → Arrive at Hotel
Gongju City Tour
Date : Oct. 14 between 3:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.
Route : Depart Hotel → Gongsanseong Fortress (90min) → Hanging wish-lamps → 2010 Great Baekje World Festival (80min) → Baekje Luminaries → Arrive at Hotel
Experience Program ― Optional (Free)
2010 Great Baekje World Festival (Gongju)
Transportation : Bus
Program / Time / Venue
Trying on royal garments of Baekje / 10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. / Gomanaru Art Festival
Exhibition of traditional Korean rice cakes and rice Cake-making experience / 10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. / Gomanaru Art Festival
Hanging wish-lamps / 10:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m. / Gongsanseong Fortress
Gomduri train ride / 10:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m. / Yeonmoon Art Festival Square

Seoul Offers Ancient Heritage , Modernity
Participants will be given chances to make a technical tour to Seoul

Visitors to Seoul are fascinated with a plethora of attractions ranging from old palaces and other traditional Korean heritage from its 600-year history to fast-changing, hustling-bustling modernity. Seoul, one of the world’s most popular cities, has a myriad of skyscrapers, a symbol of Korea’s breakneck economic strides. The metropolitan government has tried to widen the city’s green spaces. The latest spectacular achievement of this effort is the restoration of the Cheonggye Stream, a 5.84 km-long stream cutting across downtown Seoul.
Seoul is a metropolis where you can find the harmonious coexistence of its past with its present and future. The city was established as a Korean capital some 600 years ago and has since then always been the center of Korean politics, culture and economy. The Gyeongbokgung Palace, where kings resided during the Joseon Dynasty, and the Changing of Guard Ceremony at Deoksugung Palace, which is performed just as it was 600 years ago, provide visitors with a vivid experience of the history and traditional life of Seoul.
Among tourism attractions popular among foreign visitors are the Seoul Museum of Art; the Seoul Museum of History; Leeum Samsung Museum of Art; Seoul Metropolitan Museum; the N Seoul Tower; Lotte World in Jamsil; Seounyudo Park; Haneul Park (Seoul World Cup Stadium); and cruises along the Han River, to name just a few.
The capital is a shopper’s paradise. The conventional market of Namdaemun sells such popular items as Korean ginseng products, glasses and bags. Insadong, situated in the heart of downtown Seoul, is a must-see spot for foreigners to find something Korean, including precious and traditional antiques. Insadong Street, often referred to as “Mary’s Alley” by foreigners, consists of one main road with alleys on each side and is one of Seoul’s representative tourist attractions with galleries, traditional restaurants, teahouses and cafes.
There are about 100 galleries in the area where you can see an example of every Korean traditional fine art, ranging from paintings to sculptures. The most famous galleries are Hakgojae Gallery, which serves as the center of folk art, Gana Art Gallery, which promotes many promising artists, and Gana Art Center.
Foreigners may feel like it’s their home away from home, as Itaewon remains the capital’s multicultural district and a magnet for foreign visitors with signboards written in English, Japanese and Chinese. You can buy at reasonable prices a wide range of items including apparel, shoes, hiking clothing, tailored suits, Korean antiques, furniture and traditional Korean gifts. Itaewon also turns into a different world at night as a stream of entertainment and drinking establishments light up both sides of the street.
Recommended Seoul Tours
Public Parks for the Sustainable Urban Environment
Route : Incheon International Airport → Seonyudo Park → Haneul Park (Seoul World Cup Stadium) → Cheonggyecheon Stream → Lotte Buyeo Resort
Dates : Oct. 10, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Hangang River Sightseeing Cruise and Birds-eye Night View
Route : Lotte Buyeo Resort → Hangang River Buffet Cruise (Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain) → N Seoul Tower → Incheon International Airport
Date : Oct. 14, 3:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Tour for the discovery of the beauty of Seoul
Route : Lotte Buyeo Resort → Leeum Samsung Museum of Art → Seoul Metropolitan Museum of Art → Arts District around Hongik University → Incheon International Airport
Date : Oct. 14, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Core of the 600-year-old Capital
Route : Incheon International Airport → Deoksugung Palace (The Changing of the Guard Ceremony) → Cheong wa dae Sarangchae → Gyeongbokgung Palace → Lotte Buyeo Resort
Date : Oct. 10, 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
World Cultural Heritage Tour
Route : Lotte Buyeo Resort → Changgyeonggung Palace → Insa-dong → Jongmyo Shrine → Incheon International Airport
Date : Oct. 15, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. nw

Tourism ministers are shown here gathered for the initial T.20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting held in Johannesburg in South Africa on Feb. 22-24. The 2nd T.20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting is scheduled in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province, Korea from Oct. 11-13.

Five-story stone pagoda of the Jeongnim Temple Site

Buyeo National Museum

Gungnamji Pond

An alley of Insadong, downtown Seoul

Gyeongbokgung Palace of Joseon Dynasty

Changgyeonggung Palace of Joseon Dynasty