Gaeseong to Open to S. Korean Tourists
2003-09-09
Following Mt. Geumgang and Pyongyang, North Korea's ancient city of Gaeseong will be open to South Korean tourists from next month.
Hyundai Asan, an inter-Korean business operator, announced on Monday (Sept. 8) that it will start the cross-border tours around October. But “it will only be a one-day trip for a while” until other conditions are met, Hyundai Asan president Kim Yoon-kyu said during a press session held at its headquarters in Seoul.
“As soon as we finish refurbishing the two accommodation facilities at Mt. Geumgang, we will be able to regularly send tourists there via a land route, once every day instead of once every two days,” Kim said.
According to the Hyundai chief, the Gaeseong industrial park will open as early as next May. “We will start construction of a 10,000 pyong (33,000 square meter) large complex for five or six companies from next month as a testing bed, so that they can start production in six months,” Kim said.
The North and Hyundai also agreed to build ski slopes in the Mt. Geumgang area in addition to a 36-hole golf course in Gaeseong. The North's circus troupe will tour South Korea and its national treasures will also be exhibited, according to the agreement.
Kim also added Hyundai plans to take around 1,000 South Koreans to Pyongyang between Oct. 2 and 5 for a ceremony to mark the completion of a stadium named after the company's late founder Chung Ju-yung.
Source : www.korea.net
