Get a taste of Korea Sparkling

Enthralling traditional Korean dance performance.

Z G Nan Fang Holidays executive director Annie Ng beaming with delight with the recognition from KTO.

Recognition also went to Klang Valley Travel & Tours (M) MD K P Loo for outstanding effort and cooperation in promoting Korea.

KTO president and CEO Oh (left) presenting the award to Golden TourWorld Travel (M) MD Jason Lim who has been selling Korea for more than nine years.


Azizan (in batik) at the opening of Korea Plaza.

Ko (left) and Kim are the two signatories for the MoU.

Get a taste of Korea Sparkling
Text and photos by Anthony Tan

Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) is certainly reinforcing its efforts to attract more Malaysians to visit Korea with its aggressive campaigns.

It is working with Korea’s industrial giant LG Electronics, a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications, to bring from the land whose popular drama series such as Winter Sonata and Jewel in the Palace have won the hearts of many Asians.

The collaboration between the two resulted in the setting up of Korea’s one-stop tourism and culture centre, Korea Plaza, which will also be used as a strategic base for public relations and marketing activities of Korea’s travel industries and related organisations.

At the recent signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between them in Kuala Lumpur, LG Electronics (M) Sdn Bhd managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) TY Ko said, “This is indeed a great platform for us to showcase and further expose LG’s stylish-designed and smart technology products such as our award winning liquid crystal display televisions, finely tuned home theatre systems, DVD players and mobile phones, which we will be providing to KTO as part of the promotion.”

You will get a chance to win attractive LG products when purchasing tour packages to Korea.

KTO MD Kim Kee Hun said, “It is very appropriate that LG has come in to help us with our promotions as they are one of the largest corporations in South Korea and are globally renowned for their outstanding products.”

Korea Plaza was officially opened on 6 November at Menara Hup Seng. Strategically sited within the golden triangle of Kuala Lumpur, the centre will be a convenient place to drop in for insight into Korea’s many attractions and its way of life.

You will not only find publications on Korea here but will also get to see on display things like Korean traditional attire and shoes, tea set and much more.
KTO president and CEO Oh Jee-Chul said Korea Plaza would be instrumental in promoting South Korea as a holiday destination for Malaysians. Last year, 83,000 Malaysians visited South Korea.

There has been a gradual increase in Korean arrivals to Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia website, www.tourism.gov.my under Facts & Figures showed that 233,697 North and South Koreans visited Malaysia last year, up from 194,404 in 2006.

Its latest statistics for South Korean arrivals to Malaysia in October rose 42% to 19,257 compared to October 2007. In fact, from February to October this year, the monthly figures for South Korea have been higher compared to the previous corresponding months of 2007.

KTO certainly invited the right Tourism Malaysia official to grace this auspicious event, which was later followed by Korea Tourism Night celebration with the travel trade and media.

He is none other than Tourism Malaysia acting deputy director general (1) Azizan Noordin, who had served as Korea regional director in Seoul.

KTO also had Korea Muslim Federation secretary-general-cum-imam A Rahman Lee Ju Hwa to brief the travel trade on the 135,000 Muslims residing in South Korea.

“There were quite a number of Malaysians, Arabs, Indonesians and Pakistani Muslims living in South Korea. The history of Islam in South Korea dates back some 50 years.

“The Koreans have acquired a better understanding of halal food and Muslim customs. South Korea has 10 mosques and 60 mussolahs or prayer rooms. Previously, you would not be able to find a musollah in South Korea,” he said.

Also present at Korea Tourism Night were two local celebrities: Popular Malay singer Mawi, KTO’s honorary ambassador for 2007-08 and My FM deejay Pheobe Yap, KTO’s new honorary ambassador for 2009-10.

The duo sang to entertain the guests with popular numbers. Yap also shared with the audience the experience of her recent visit to South Korea. The specially flown in Kim Joong Ja Folk Dancing Group, Korea’s famous traditional dance troupe, was the highlight of the entertainment that night.

Seven top travel agencies selling Korea’s destinations were also honoured that night. They are:

Malaysian Harmony Tour & Travel Sdn Bhd
Apple Vacations & Conventions Sdn Bhd
Golden TourWorld Travel (M) Sdn Bhd
Klang ValleyTravel & Tours (M) Sdn Bhd
Z G Nan Fang Holidays (M) Sdn Bhd
Premium Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd
Reliance Shipping & Travel Agencies Sdn Bhd

For more of the Korean experience, check out An Enchanting Evening with the Korean Goguryo Orchestra performance on 4 December at 8pm at Dewan Sri Pinang, Lebuh Light in Penang. The show will feature cultural dances and folk songs by a 20-member cast. KTO is one of the presenters for this charity event.