Known also as the “Festival of the Opening of Heaven,” the annual celebration commemorates the mythological founding of Korea in 2333 B.C. by King Dangun Wanggeom.

The fourth such celebration in Taiwan organized by the Korean Mission in Taipei, a wide variety of Korean dishes and beverages was offered for guests to enjoy while a Korean food expert flown in especially for the occasion indulged the audience with a thorough traditional fare demonstration.

Describing Taiwan and South Korea as “inseparable trading partners that are highly-dependent on each other,” Korean Mission Representative Sang Sik Oh said during his opening remarks that bilateral trade volume has nearly doubled just in the past four years, from US$13 billion in 2003 to an estimated figure of over US$25 billion this year.

“Ever since the direct flight service between Seoul and Taipei resumed in 2004, the two sides have both benefited from active interactions,” noted Oh, who addressed the audience in Mandarin. In particular, he pointed out a “substantial progress” not only in trade but also in various other sectors such as tourism, culture, and sports as well.

Thanks to the more than 100 direct flights between Seoul and Taipei currently in service every week, tourism has also increased, from 420,000 in 1992 to 540,000 last year and an expected excess of 600,000 this year, he continued.

As for cultural links, Oh notes an increased interest in and understanding of Korea in Taiwan due to the local media’s exposure of Korean television programs, a phenomenon that has in turn boosted the number of Korean language learners.

“I hope that the friendly and cooperative relations between Korea and Taiwan will continue to develop in the future and will contribute to the embodiment of universal values such as democracy, market economy, and respect for human rights,” said Oh in closing.

For her part, Foreign Vice Minister Chang Siao-yue characterized the bilateral relations between Taiwan and Korea as “very strong and solid,” evidenced in this year’s first-ever direct economic talks between the two countries, as well as the direct air links, visa waivers, and the R.O.C. office established in Pusan in 2005, in addition to the overall interest in the Korean culture in Taiwan. “The ‘Korea wave’ has really hit Taiwan!” she enthused.

Referring to the 2nd Inter-Korea Summit which started Oct. 2 and ends today, Chang said South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun made a “tremendous step” by walking across the border that divides Korea. “We believe that this step will play a very important role in the future peace and stability of Korea.”

On Tuesday, traveling to Pyongyang for talks with Kim Jong Il on the first day of the summit, Roh accompanied by his wife, Kwon Yang-sook, walked across the Korean Demilitarized Zone into the North, making him the first South Korean leader to do so.

When asked about his view on the summit, Oh said he hoped it would be “very successful and very constructive” for both North and South Korea. “I hope that we have some substantial progress. Everybody is awaiting the outcome of the talks.”

“I think the outcome of the summit meeting will be very positive... in promoting a friendly relationship and encouraging the North Koreans to come out to the international community,” he added.

The Inter-Korean Summit is a meeting of heads of South Korea and North Korea. The South Korean Government has consistently emphasized the need for an inter-Korean summit, which it recognizes as instrumental in resolving the issue of the North Korean nuclear program and developing inter-Korean relations.

While no official agenda had been announced for the talks, the summit has raised hopes to pave the way for a formal end to the 1950-1953 Korean War, a solution to the nuclear issue, and a strengthening of the economic ties and relations between the two sides. A joint statement is scheduled to be announced this morning.

The Koreas’ only other summit was held in Pyongyang in 2000 between Kim Jong-il and Kim Dae-jung.