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Cultural Calendar of "Visit Korea Year 2001" Giving the World a Taste of Korea   Annual festivals held in various regions across the nation offer an excellent opportunity to enjoy nature, cultural relics, and a variety of local products and games simultaneously. The year 2001 will be particularly notable for its rich assortment of programs, with many foreign performing teams invited to various festivals to celebrate "Visit Korea Year." The following is a summary of the key cultural events to take place.     Like every country in the world, Korea has its distinctive flavor. You can see it in the colorful hanbok (traditional costume) that Koreans wear on special holidays. You can hear it in the sorrowful p'ansori (solo opera) performances. And you can literally taste it in kimchi, Korea's favorite side dish made from fermented cabbage and spices. But it's difficult to visit Korea, the "Land of the Morning Calm" as it is dubbed, just to see a performance or have a traditional meal or two. But come next year, one won't have to worry about getting anything less than a bargain when visiting Korea. The Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism has designated the year 2001 as "Visit Korea Year." It's a year-long event filled with cultural fairs, tour programs and traveling and shopping incentives. Just hop a plane to Seoul, and you?l be guaranteed non-stop action that'll keep you hopping from city to city and from fun to fun. "We've included ten main events and sixteen special ones that we want to spotlight for foreigners visiting Korea," said Kim Kuen-koo, chief organizer of the Visit Korea Year program. "These are in addition to all the local events organized by local communities on their own." The Visit Korea Year will get off to a start with the "Peace and Harmony Festival," December 31, 2000-January 1, 2001. The opening gala will invite the most popular celebrities of the day to the Inchon International Airport to welcome foreign travelers to Korea. There will also be the "Welcoming Celebration: Korea 2001," which will be staged in various parts of Korea throughout the year with the content, setting and times varying. These general fairs will be followed by the "Taegu International Textile & Fashion Festival," May 10-30, which will offer great savings as well as a festive atmosphere in the textile field, and the "World T'aekwondo Festival," July 11-20, which will showcase Korea's famous martial art with competitions and demonstrations. The arts are not to be left out. From August 10 to October 28, the "World Ceramic Exposition" will be held in Ich'on, Yoju, and Kwangju, three cities in Kyonggi-do province which together have come to be known as the Korean Ceramic Belt. It will include various pottery exhibitions and demonstrations. The "Pusan International Film & Music Festival," September 27-October 25, will introduce not only the finest films and music, but also the famous seaport culture of Pusan. The "World of Sori Festival," October 20-November 14, will showcase a series of p'ansori concerts at the art's birthplace, Ch'onju, Chollabuk-do province. The "World Food Festival," October 18-29, will see a cooking showdown between Chinese, Korean and Japanese cooks in Kwangju, Chollanam-do province, and the "Ski & Snow Festival," January-March, will show off Korea's world-class ski resorts and allow skiers from around the world to meet. But these traditionally popular events are only the beginning. Colorful local events based on unique Korean ideas, products and customs are also marked on the calendar. "In fact, we encourage tourists to visit the provincial cities more than the major cities because that's where they can get real local color," said Kong Bum-suk, a deputy director with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Among the noteworthy events is the "Chindo Yongdung Moses Miracle Festival," May 3-6, on Chindo Island, Chollanam-do. The island is famous for its Korean version of the Moses miracle, when a super low tide creates a land bridge 2.8 kilometers long and about 40 meters wide for a few hours. A variety of festivities are scheduled for around the time of this natural phenomenon. There are also galas devoted strictly to famous Korean foods such as pine mushrooms and ginseng. During the "Yangyang Pine Mushroom Festival," September 29-October 8, in Yangyang, Kangwon-do province, one can walk along beautiful valleys and search for mushrooms in the shade under pine trees. At the "World Ginseng Festival," August 25-September 3, in Kumsan, Ch'ungch'ongnam-do province, an area that produces 80 percent of the nation's ginseng demand, visitors can harvest ginseng harvest and learn how to prepare it. They can also participate in beauty pageants and singing contests as well as enjoy a lantern ceremony, parades, music and dance performances and get health counseling. Other notable events include the "Poryong Mud Festival," in Poryong, Ch'ungch'ongnam-do pro-vince, July 14-17; the "Ironman Asia Triathlon Cheju" at Chjudo Island, June 25-July 3; the "Suwon Fortress Festival," October 7-13 at Suwon, Kyonggi-do province; the "Andong Mask Dance," October 5-15, at Andong, Kyongsangbuk-do province; and the "F3 Korea Grand Prix," November 24-26 at Ch'angwon, Kyongsangnam-do province. "There are many events in Korea that are unique and interesting, but most foreigners aren't aware of them. This is our chance to introduce our culture and our favorite things to them," said Kim of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Of course, the organizers are also aware that nothing beats shopping in attracting visitors. In celebration of the Visit Korea Year, there will be the "Korea Grand Sale" in April, with over 200 outlets nationwide offering discounts of 10-60 percent, "Korea Duty Free Shopping" at all major department stores and hotels and the "Korea Family Card" available to Koreans living abroad. For additional information, call 822-318-2187/8.