NEW YORK, NY (06/28/07) – At a gala event this evening at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City, Korea Tourism Organization introduced its new brand “Korea, Sparkling.” This is the first step in a major campaign to promote Korea as an exciting tourist destination filled with many outstanding attractions, culture, and world-class hospitality.

Before an audience of dignitaries from the US and Korea, Korea’s famed award-winning B Boys delighted the audience with a dazzling performance. Their amazing contortions and acrobatic feats were recently celebrated in a film premiering in the US at the Tribeca Film Festival. The preparation of dinner and hors d’oeuvres highlighting the diversity and creativity in Korean cuisine was overseen by one of Korea’s most internationally renowned chefs, Mr. Gi Ho Yim. A master chef who dedicates himself to raising Korean cooking to an art form, Mr. Yim runs Sandang, his own restaurant in Yangpyeong, near Seoul.

Featured speakers of the evening included Mr. Kyungsup Um, Vice President for Tourism Technology Division, Korea Tourism Organization, who was responsible for the development of “Korea, Sparkling” and Mr. Jack Maraffi, president of PATA New York, one of the most important organizations of its kind in the industry. Julie Chang of Channel 11 Morning News in New York was the evening’s emcee. Also in attendance were Korean’s Consul General to the US Bong-joo Moon and Mr. Sung Woock Cho, executive director of Korea Tourism Organization in New York.