Japan-Korea Festival to open in Seoul in Feb

Asian Economic News, Jan 22, 2001

TOKYO, Jan. 19 Kyodo

The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) said Friday it will open the ''Japan-Korea Festival'' in Seoul next month to promote friendship between the two countries.

The festival is open to the public for free at the Convention and Exhibition Center in Seoul from Feb. 16 to 25, the government-affiliated organization said.

In October 1998, when South Korean President Kim Dae Jung visited Tokyo, the two countries agreed to mutually organize a series of exhibitions. These were to improve bilateral ties toward the 2002 World Cup, which the two nations are to co-host.

The Japan-Korea Festival next month is the first of the three festivals of its kind planned by Japan.

South Korea already held its first festival in Tokyo last November, organized by the Korean Trade-Investment Promotion Agency.

JETRO said the exhibitions in the February festival will include high-vision theater systems, humanoid robots, advanced information equipment, environmentally friendly cars and nursing equipment. They will come under three themes -- information technology, environmental conservation, and welfare in the graying society.

Twenty-six Japanese local governments will take part and introduce their products and culture, it said.

The second festival by Japan is to take place in Pusan in November. South Korea's second festival is to open in Osaka the same month, JETRO added.