Cambodian Ambassador Lim SamkolInterview With Foreign Envoys (19) Angkor-Kyongju Expo Due This Month
By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
The Korea Times (South Korea)
The top envoy from Cambodia to Seoul said the most important event in the history of bilateral relations between Cambodia and South Korea will take place this month - the Angkor-Kyeongju World Culture Expo 2006, which will be held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, from Nov. 21 to Jan. 9 next year.
``This will be the biggest cultural program of this kind since Angkor Wat emerged and drew attention from the world,’’ Cambodian Ambassador Lim Samkol said. ``It will be the most important event between Cambodia and Korea.’’
The 58-year-old ambassador said the 50-day event will include an opening ceremony attended by President Roh Moo-hyun, an Andre Kim fashion show, film screenings, exhibitions and Cambodian and Korean traditional dance performances.
The venue for the event is Siem Reap, where ancient Cambodian relics such as Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom are sited.
``I would like to mention that Angkor Wat is appointed a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO,’’ he said. ``On the other hand, Kyongju represents the thousand years old civilizations of Korea.’’
So the event is designed to show two great cultures of Asia, Lim said.
``The purpose of holding this event, in addition to promoting mutual understanding between Cambodians and Koreans, is to share it with the people of the rest of the world and let them experience our two cultures for the benefit of cultural understanding of the peoples around the world.’’
Lim hoped that the expo will bring more tourists to Siem Reap, a region considered the engine of economic growth for Cambodia with mushrooming tourism. Particularly, he expected the event to give more opportunity for Koreans to know about tourist attractions in Cambodia.
Actually, Korea is No. 1 in terms of the number of tourists to Cambodia. Last year, 216,584 Koreans visited Cambodia, particularly Siem Reap, and some 300,000 Koreans are expected to visit Cambodia this year, according to the ambassador.
``The history, mystery and architect of Angkor are very awesome and priceless,’’ he said. ``Many Koreans are fond of culture. For that reason, perhaps, we have seen many Korean people coming to our country.’’
However, the ambassador said that Cambodia would develop not only in tourism but also in other areas. Though Cambodia became known to the world for its hidden treasure in the form of the Angkor Wat temples, his country would not remain just a tourist destination, he said.
``Our government has carried out a strategy called `rectangular strategy,’ which includes all priorities of development in a clear guiding structure. This is the master plan of national development,’’ he said.
This year is the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Cambodia.
To mark the anniversary, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen paid an official visit to Seoul last March and President Roh will have a state visit to Cambodia this month, he said.
For details about Angkor Wat, visit www.angkor-gyeongjuexpo.com.
yoonwonsup@koreatimes.co.kr
``This will be the biggest cultural program of this kind since Angkor Wat emerged and drew attention from the world,’’ Cambodian Ambassador Lim Samkol said. ``It will be the most important event between Cambodia and Korea.’’
The 58-year-old ambassador said the 50-day event will include an opening ceremony attended by President Roh Moo-hyun, an Andre Kim fashion show, film screenings, exhibitions and Cambodian and Korean traditional dance performances.
The venue for the event is Siem Reap, where ancient Cambodian relics such as Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom are sited.
``I would like to mention that Angkor Wat is appointed a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO,’’ he said. ``On the other hand, Kyongju represents the thousand years old civilizations of Korea.’’
So the event is designed to show two great cultures of Asia, Lim said.
``The purpose of holding this event, in addition to promoting mutual understanding between Cambodians and Koreans, is to share it with the people of the rest of the world and let them experience our two cultures for the benefit of cultural understanding of the peoples around the world.’’
Lim hoped that the expo will bring more tourists to Siem Reap, a region considered the engine of economic growth for Cambodia with mushrooming tourism. Particularly, he expected the event to give more opportunity for Koreans to know about tourist attractions in Cambodia.
Actually, Korea is No. 1 in terms of the number of tourists to Cambodia. Last year, 216,584 Koreans visited Cambodia, particularly Siem Reap, and some 300,000 Koreans are expected to visit Cambodia this year, according to the ambassador.
``The history, mystery and architect of Angkor are very awesome and priceless,’’ he said. ``Many Koreans are fond of culture. For that reason, perhaps, we have seen many Korean people coming to our country.’’
However, the ambassador said that Cambodia would develop not only in tourism but also in other areas. Though Cambodia became known to the world for its hidden treasure in the form of the Angkor Wat temples, his country would not remain just a tourist destination, he said.
``Our government has carried out a strategy called `rectangular strategy,’ which includes all priorities of development in a clear guiding structure. This is the master plan of national development,’’ he said.
This year is the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Cambodia.
To mark the anniversary, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen paid an official visit to Seoul last March and President Roh will have a state visit to Cambodia this month, he said.
For details about Angkor Wat, visit www.angkor-gyeongjuexpo.com.
yoonwonsup@koreatimes.co.kr
2 comments:
Lim Samkol go around promoting Cambodian culture? It would be a culture shock for the outside world to see how dirt poor Cambodian people are! The whole world would see Cambodian people as poor and stupid people and if these Cambodian people have any intelligence left in them and why can they change themselves and live like a civilize human!
Tell me who is going to respect Cambodian culture when these Cambodian people live no better than the dogs and cats in the free world!
AH HUN SEN is promoting Vietcong mediocre culture not the real Cambodian culture! If I were a foreigner I would be laughing at Cambodian culture because the way these dirt poor Cambodian people live their life doesn't match their culture which it claimed to be!
There is a time and place for everything! This is not the time to exploit Cambodian culture with AH HUN SEN corrupted culture! The world need to understand the different!
Is this man is really Lim Samkol? I just wonder if his orginal name was Nguyen Thi kvak and now Lim Samkol. He doesn't look like Lim Samkol at all!!!!
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