The organizing committee for the World Traditional Medicine EXPO in Sancheong, KOREA 2013 was launched Friday.

The ceremony was attended by more than 700 bigwigs from the government as well as from the medical and other industries, including former Culture Minister Lee O-young who will head the committee, Lee Jae-keun, head of the Sancheong County office and more.

Aimed at “creating more value through traditional medicine,” the EXPO will be held from Sept. 6 through Oct. 20 next year in the southern county of Sancheong. It will introduce Korean Oriental medicine to more than 1.7 million visitors including 75,000 foreigners, the committee said. 

With a 44.6 billion won budget, the event will feature academic conferences and experimental facilities to attract those unfamiliar with Korean Oriental medicine, the prompt relative pharmaceutical industry and others.

The event is meaningful since one of the main themes will be highlighting the value of Dongeuibogam, the 25-volume encyclopedia on Eastern medical principles that has been added to the Memory of the World Register of the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization in 2009. It is the first medical book to be listed. In 2009, the book celebrated its 400-year-anniversary and UNESCO designated 2013 as the Year of Dongeuibogam to honor its historical and cultural meaning to the world.

“I am confident that the EXPO will bring back the heyday of Korean Oriental medicine and take it to another level,” said Health and Welfare Rim Che-min during his congratulatory speech.

“The EXPO will draw international attention to Sancheong since well-being and health are the most popular and important issues of the time,” said Kim Du-kwan, governor of South Gyeongsang Province, at his opening speech.

“People will be able to enjoy a meal table filled with healthy vegetables cooked with Oriental marinades, drink herbal tea and walk around ‘Hun Joon Road,’ honoring the author of Dongeuibogam. They will be able to have leading Oriental medical doctors prescribe them with the best medicine to boost their energy and chi (energy) while indulging in meditation to empty themselves in the middle of a clean air environment. It will take away their stress and fill them with happiness,” he added.

“Sancheong has been the home to many herbs that were used for royal remedy. Historically, Huh Joon as well as many other noted doctors had been stationed in the region to study and practice,” said Lee Jae-keun.

“The event will bring a breath of fresh air to the region and let the history meet the future,” he added.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)