A Cambodian Buddhist monk sits in the Bayon Temple, part of Cambodia's Angkor temple complex in Siem Reap province, 186 miles northwest of Phnom Penh, November 20, 2006. Cambodia will host Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2006 for 50 days from November 21 to January 9, 2007. REUTERS/Chor SokuntheaTuesday, 21 November 2006
By Guy De Launey
BBC News, Phnom Penh
One of the biggest events ever to be held in Cambodia has opened near the world-famous temples of Angkor.
The Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo, named after important Cambodian and South Korean heritage sites, will showcase both nations' culture.
By the time it closes in the middle of January, it hopes to have attracted more than 500,000 visitors.
It is the most obvious dividend of a burgeoning relationship between Cambodia and South Korea.
Growing interest
Events held in the shadows of the five towers of Angkor Wat are usually small-scale affairs, so the Angkor-Gyeongju Expo is a real break with recent tradition.
The exhibition will feature two pavilions showing off the best of Cambodian and South Korean culture.
Not only will there be regular performances at Angkor Wat itself, but a large area on the road to the temples has also been set aside for the expo.
Daily shows will include cock-fighting and buffalo-racing on the Cambodian side, with totem-pole whittling among the Korean attractions.
For the opening ceremony, there will be an elephant parade, recreating the glory of the ancient Khmer Empire.
The official explanation for the international tie-up is that Angkor and Gyeongju are both important heritage sites, but beyond that is the curious rise of Korean interest in Cambodia.
South Koreans account for almost one-third of tourist arrivals at Angkor, and now businesses are starting to follow.
Korean Air has just started direct flights to Cambodia for the first time, and one of the country's leading banks is recruiting staff for planned Cambodian branches.
The Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo, named after important Cambodian and South Korean heritage sites, will showcase both nations' culture.
By the time it closes in the middle of January, it hopes to have attracted more than 500,000 visitors.
It is the most obvious dividend of a burgeoning relationship between Cambodia and South Korea.
Growing interest
Events held in the shadows of the five towers of Angkor Wat are usually small-scale affairs, so the Angkor-Gyeongju Expo is a real break with recent tradition.
The exhibition will feature two pavilions showing off the best of Cambodian and South Korean culture.
Not only will there be regular performances at Angkor Wat itself, but a large area on the road to the temples has also been set aside for the expo.
Daily shows will include cock-fighting and buffalo-racing on the Cambodian side, with totem-pole whittling among the Korean attractions.
For the opening ceremony, there will be an elephant parade, recreating the glory of the ancient Khmer Empire.
The official explanation for the international tie-up is that Angkor and Gyeongju are both important heritage sites, but beyond that is the curious rise of Korean interest in Cambodia.
South Koreans account for almost one-third of tourist arrivals at Angkor, and now businesses are starting to follow.
Korean Air has just started direct flights to Cambodia for the first time, and one of the country's leading banks is recruiting staff for planned Cambodian branches.
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