BRIEFLY

New York wines introduced to Korea

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul introduced wines from New York to more than 40 potential buyers through a "virtual wine tasting" event at the Information Resource Center in Namyeong-dong.

The two-hour event conducted live via video conferencing promoted five Hudson Valley wineries simultaneously while attendees enjoyed wines from that region.

"The Hudson Valley is among the oldest wine-making regions in the United States," said Carmine D`Aloisio, the U.S. Embassy`s Minister-Counselor for Commercial Affairs. "We are pleased to be able to use video conferencing technology to introduce Korean buyers to some of the most outstanding examples of Hudson Valley wines."

The U.S. Embassy is continually looking for innovative ways to help bring U.S. products to Korea. This event was no different. While people sampled some of the wines, representatives of the New York wine industry and the wineries broadcasted live from Marist College in Poughkeepsie.

Paul Anka coming to town

Internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Paul Anka is coming to Seoul on Sunday. After his first album, Diana, rocketed him to fame in 1957, he released a number of popular albums in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1980, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Last year, Anka came back with a new album, "Rock Swings" and was also appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. The concert will be held at Olympic Hall in Jamsil. Prices range from 200,000 - 70,000 won. For more information visit www.iyescom.com (Korean only).

A different kind of art expo

Art exhibitions have become very popular around the diplomatic circuit and that`s why the Polish Embassy will be trying something a little different by organizing a graphic arts exhibition.

The "Polish Eagles: Young Polish Graphic Art in Seoul" is a unique presentation of traditional printing technologies that brings together some 80 works by 46 artists from Poland. Also on exhibit are post-modernity and splash graphics, photography, design and multimedia mixed with technologies of the digital era.

The exhibit will run from Thursday until June 9 at the Korea Foundation Cultural Center in Sunhwa-dong. For more information visit www.kfcenter.or,kr or call (02) 3789-5600.

EU Film Festival underway

This year`s EU Film Festival is currently underway at the Artreon Theater in Shinchon and runs until Wednesday.

"I fully agree, the EU is a strange concept, sometimes even for European citizens! With 25 Member States and a population of 460 million people, 21 official languages etc. It should be clear that there is also no single European culture to be presented in a film festival. Nevertheless, Europe`s strength in the field of culture is well known. An important element of this strength is Europe`s diversity and this diversity will be expressed in the films of 13 different European countries participating in this event," said Austrian Ambassador Wilhelm Donko during his opening speech.

For schedule information checkout he Artreon Theater Web site www.atreon.co.kr

Interested in doing business in Denmark?

If your company is interested in doing business in Denmark, contact the embassy`s Commercial Counselor Jeppe Solmer who will be visiting Denmark from May 29-June 2. To contact him call (02) 798-0536 or by email at jepsol@um.dk

(yoav@heraldm.com)