Residents of Seoul and Yeosu were treated to a taste of the diverse cultures of South East Asia at the 2012 ASEAN Culture and Tourism Fair at the weekend.

The fair, held simultaneously at D-Cube City in Seoul and the site of the Yeosu Expo on Saturday and Sunday, showcased the cultures of 10 ASEAN states including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. 

Booths provided travel and cultural information on each country, while musical and dance performances kept visitors entertained. Signature cuisine from the countries was also served to those who attended.

Hau Khan Sum, First Secretary of the Embassy of Myanmar, hailed the fair as an example of solidarity between nations.

“It is quite successful and impressive because it shows the solidarity of our countries. At the same time, we can promote our culture and tourism, especially (as) Myanmar is one of the most interesting places to visit.”

He added that while most Koreans knew little about the country, a flight route set to open between Incheon and Yangon in the near future meant the prospects for tourism were good.

“The number of Korean tourists is increasing day by day,” he said.

By John Power (john.power@heraldcorp.com )