Republic of Korea Pavilion (South Korea)
From Expo ‘74 World’s Fair Spokane, by Dawn Bowers (p. 99):
“Echoes from the Land of Morning Calm” was the theme of the Republic of Korea’s Pavilion. Approaching it visitors found the Ging of Welcome (pronounced jing) at each of the several entrances as well as many beautiful wind bells.
Visitors announced their arrival by striking the Ging of Welcome while the sound of hundreds of wind bells proclaimed the oriental theme of the Pavilion from a distance.
The tastes, the sounds and the sights of Korea, “Land of Morning Calm” were represented in three major sections.
The first exhibit was entitled “sounds of nature” and featured, in addition to the wind chimes and gings, tape-recorded sounds of birds singing, people talking, background noises from a small city, traditional Korean music, the sounds of wind and rushing water.
“Sights of nature” was the next section of the exhibit which presented typical Korean scenes in large photographs on wall panels and the ceiling. A long wall of color photographs was the face of Korea - the very young to the very old. A poignant remind of the beauty that is man everywhere.
A movie of the Korean landscape and the pollution free waters surrounding this beautiful country was followed by photographs and films of Korea’s rural beautification programs and water systems, of people enjoying the matchless beauty of Korea’s wilderness areas, of people relaxing in the carefully planned parks in Seoul, the capitol city.
A variety of Korean traditional folk instruments were also on display.
By far the most popular sight was the seven folk dancers who performed five times daily attracting Fair visitors by the thousands. Nine different traditional folk dances celebrated nature, flowers, trees, the beauty and grace of Korea’s women and the thanksgiving for a good harvest.
Incorporated in the Pavilion was the Korea House Restaurant where the “tastes of Korea” could be found. One could sample fiery kimchee or piquant bul-go-gi, delicious natural foods of the country while enjoying the folk dances and the movies.
Echoes from the land of morning calm gave a glimpse, an unspoiled example of what many industrialized nations are trying to achieve.
The popular Korean folk dancers posed outside the Republic of Korea pavilion, as seen in the Viewmaster reels.
