South Korea's state-run Korean Tourism Organization (KTO) announced on Friday that it will host cultural events next Wednesday on a passenger ship between South Korea and China to promote bilateral exchanges.

"About 1,200 Yantai citizens will attend a joint performance held by the KTO and Yantai's government at 11:00 a.m. next Wednesday at the Yantai Port. Some famous South Korean stars, including Cho Jung-en, who has become a popular star in China withher excellent performance in the South Korean drama Dea-Janggeum, before a ferry ship bound for South Korea's Incheon Port," Kang Song-jea, an official of the KTO told Xinhua. Yantai is located atthe eastern coast of China and has close exchanges with South Korea.

On the ferry to Incheon, KTO will introduce South Korean cultures and food to about 390 Chinese travelers on aboard and hold a photo exhibition of tourist attractions in South Korea during their 16-hour voyage, Kang said.

The event is part of the ceremonies for the Sino-Korean Exchange Year, which was an agreement between the leaders of the two countries. China and South Korea will hold a series of events in 2007 to mark the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

"We hope the events can help Chinese tourists to have a good understanding on South Korea and contribute to the friendship between the two nations," Kang said.

The KTO plans to hold events for the exchange year on three Chinese holidays -- Lunar New Year's day on Feb. 18, May Day on May 1 and national day on Oct. 1, the KTO official told Xinhua.

(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2007)