Still time to book for Korean sister-city anniversary tour

23 August 2005

Tickets are still available for Christchurch residents to travel as part of an official sister-city tenth anniversary tour to Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Korea.

The Christchurch-Songpa-Gu Sister City Committee is organising the tour for around  15 people.  While a number of tickets have been sold, there are still places left on the tour, which leaves on 29 September and arrives back in Christchurch on 7 October. 

Expressions of interest should be made as soon as possible to Mary Yoon on 341 0114. Ms Yoon, a Korean born New Zealander and chair of the Christchurch Songpa-Gu Sister City Committee, will lead the tour.

As well as the chance to experience Songpa-Gu’s spectacular Hanseong Baekje Festival, tourists will take in the sights of Seoul; visit a Korean folk village; experience real Korean hospitality by staying with a Korean family for two nights; and have three free days to do a wide variety of activities in and around Seoul.

At the same time, two other Christchurch groups will be visiting Songpa-Gu to help celebrate the tenth anniversary.  Hillmorton High School’s Kapahaka group will perform in Songpa-Gu’s Baekje Festival before travelling to Kurashiki, Japan for the city’s International Friendship Day and to Jeonju, Korea’s International Festival.  A Merrin School group will also travel to Songpa-Gu to visit its sister school, Se Ryun Primary School, on 26 September. 

 In November, a number of Korean visitors will make the return trip to Christchurch for the opening of ‘Alchemy of Daily Life’ (18 November- 26 February 06), the first contemporary art exhibition from Korea to visit New Zealand.

A tenth anniversary dinner will be held at the Christchurch Art Gallery on 18 November  involving an official delegation from Songpa-Gu. The following day, a Korean Festival is planned for Cathedral Square, which will include a performance by a cultural group from Korea.

Other activities planned to mark the tenth anniversary in Christchurch include a trade delegation to Seoul from 17-22 October; a new sister-school link between Chisnallwood Intermediate, Christchurch and Gawon Middle School, Songpa-Gu; and repainting of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge in the Sister Cities Gardens at Halswell Quarry Park.  Favourite New Zealand children’s books were also sent to the Seoul English Language Village earlier this year.

For further information about the Christchurch- Songpa-Gu sister city relationship visit www.christchurch.org.nz/sistercities

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