The Sails of the Fifth Korea International Boat Show Unfurled
(Published May 30, 2012)

The five-day event kicked off on May 30^th at the Jeongok Harbor Outdoor Performance Hall in Hwaseong City
 

◇ The fifth Korea International Boat Show was launched with an opening ceremony held at the Jeongok Harbor Outdoor Performance Hall, Hwaseong City, on May 30^th. ⓒ G-News Plus / Yu Je-hun

The Korea International Boat Show unfurled its sails for the fifth year running in 2012!

With the opening ceremony held at the Jeongok Harbor Outdoor Performance Hall in Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province launched the five-day Korea International Boat Show and World Yacht Racing Tour Korea Match Cup on May 30^th.

The opening ceremony was attended by some three hundred people including Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo, Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Minister Kwon Do-youp, Hwaseong City Mayor Chae In-seok, Ansan City Mayor Kim Cheol-min, and representatives of participating companies and overseas marine associations as well as participants in the sailing competition.

Announcers Seong Se-jeong and Yun Su-yeong presided over the opening ceremony, and the proceedings included a performance by a naval band, a tape-cutting ceremony, a tour of the exhibition site, and a welcoming luncheon.◇ Governor Kim Moon-soo delivering his opening speech ⓒ G-News Plus / Yu Je-hun

In his opening speech, Governor Kim Moon-soo stated, “As the Korea International Boat Show and the World Yacht Racing Tour Korea Match Cup enter their fifth year, they show great improvements while assisting Korea’s on its journey towards becoming part of the international scene.” He added, “Although Korea is surrounded by water on three sides and is one of the leading shipbuilding countries in the world, boating and yachting activities are not properly developed here. By hosting this competition, I hope that Korea will become known as an open country that has worked ceaselessly to overcome many challenges. Furthermore, I hope this event will help to foster prosperity and peace for all humankind.”

In his congratulatory message Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Minister Kwon Do-youp stated, “For the past four years, the Korea International Boat Show and World Yacht Racing Tour Korea Match Cup have done much to raise public interest in marine leisure sports and contributed to the development of yacht manufacturing and related industries.” He completed his message by saying, “I hope this year’s competition proves to be a successful world-caliber event.”

In their welcoming remarks, Hwaseong City Mayor Chae In-seok and Ansan City Mayor Kim Cheol-min congratulated the Korea International Boat Show on its success, saying, “The Korea International Boat Show has played a great role in assisting our efforts to develop the West Coast, an area of infinite potential, into the mecca of Korea’s marine industries and leisure tourism.”.◇ Governor Kim and Minister Kwon Do-youp on a tour of the exhibition hall ⓒ G-News Plus / Yu Je-hun

In his congratulatory message, World Match Racing Tour Executive Chairman Datuk Patrick Lim said, “Thank you for your support in the successful opening of the World Match Racing Tour Korea Match Cup. I am very glad that we are holding this amazing boat show and sailing competition in Korea, and believe that the Korean team will do very well in this year’s event.”

After the opening ceremony, the principal participants took a tour of the indoor exhibition hall—which has a total floor area of 11,600m², making it the largest venue in the history of the event—and viewed the boats, jet skis, and kayaks exhibited by 191 companies. At this year’s boat show, about 140 yachts and boats were on display at the marine exhibition hall (41,660 m²).

This year’s exhibition has attracted the participation of some 340 companies from 20 countries, including boat and yacht companies equipped with the world-leading technology, such as the 120-year-old French yacht manufacturer Beneteau, the world-class catamaran yacht manufacturer Lagoon, Italy’s Azimut-Benetti Group, and Chris-Craft Boats from the US.

At this year’s marine industry conference, various issues were addressed including the development and future direction of the domestic marine leisure industry.◇ Governor Kim Moon-soo, Minister Kwon Do-youp, and World Match Racing Tour Executive Chairman Datuk Patrick Lim pose together for a commemorative photo ⓒ G-News Plus / Yu Je-hun

This year’s conference—held under the theme of “the future of Korea’s marine leisure sports industries” —featured seven domestic and international marine leisure sport experts, including the secretary general of the International Council of Marine Industry Association, Tony Rice, who delivered the keynote speech.

Various domestic and international marine leisure-related companies and associations held a “briefing session for exhibiting companies” in which they shared information and introduced their associations and businesses, and a marine leisure training class was held with the aim of increasing public interest in marine leisure sports.

Compared to last year’s event, there were many more programs to experience, sights to see, and foods to enjoy. Visitors were able to experience kayaking, sailing, aquatic bumper cars, water bikes, and power boating, and there were various competitions for visitors to take part in, including beach volleyball and amateur sailing.

The Korea International Boat Show was held at Jeongok Harbor, in Hwaseong City and in the Tando Harbor area in Ansan City until June 3. For further information, please visit koreaboatshow.org.◇ Governor Kim enjoying lunch with participants after the opening ceremony ⓒG-News Plus / Yu Je-hun

ⓒ G-News Plus News / Lim Jeong-seon / jslim123@kg21.net

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