MFI 2008 arranges optional city tour for participants. If you are interested in the tour, please fill out the reservation form and return to MFI’08 Secretariat. Deadline is August 18, 2008.

	Title & Course	Time	Price KW/USD
OP-1	Royal Palace Morning Tour Hotel- Cheonggye stream- Pass by blue house - Gyeongbokgung palace- Joggye buddhist temple Ginseng center - Drop off Itawon shopping area	9:00-12:30	\38,000/$38.00
OP-2	Royal Palace Afternoon Tour Hotel- Changdeokung palace & secreat garden- Namdaemun market -Amethyst factory - Insandong Antiqiue shop alley	13:00-17:30	\40,000/$40.00
OP-3	Royal Palace and Shopping Tour Hotel- Cheonggye stream- Pass by blue house - Gyeongbokgung palace- Joggye buddhist temple Ginseng center - Lunch- Changdeokung palace & secreat garden- Namdaemun market -Amethyst factory - Insandong Antiqiue shop alley	Full Day Tour 9:00-17:30	\85,000/$85.00

CONDITIONS
* Meal : Lunch is not inclusive (except for OP-3)
* Private transfer, English speaking guide & Admissions are inclusive
* Minimum participants for tour to take place : 5 persons (departure from Korea University)

* Time schedule is subject to change due to local circumstances.

Gyeongbokgung
	Built in 1395, Gyeongbokgung remained the core nucleus of autocratic rule through much of the Joseon period. Unlike other palaces in Seoul the rectangular area is flanked by large entry gates on all four sides, and three granite walkways extend from the front entry gate, or Geunjeongmun, to Geunjeongjeon, the main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace. It was here where the head of state conducted important matters, received foreign envoys, and assembled his court in royal rituals. Enthronements also took place here. Look inside the hall and you’ll see the king’s throne, crowned by a canopy and an intricate, latticed ceiling, which includes a carving of two golden dragons in the clouds, a symbol of royalty. Walk further into the palace grounds and head west towards Gyeonghoeru, or the Pavilion of Joyous Meeting. The elevated pavilion, buttressed by stone columns floats on a man-made lake, and its granite railings feature carved renditions of the Bulgasari, a mythological creature known to consume fire. The two-story pavilion may be a familiar sight as it is inscribed on the back of the 10,000 won note. As you head north be sure to check out the Hyangwonjeong, a hexagonal two-story pavilion located on a lotus pond at the end of a wooden bridge. Constructed in 1873, the charming Hyangwonjeong is located on an island and is a relatively latecomer to the palace grounds. Other points of interest in Gyeongbokgung include the Amisan, a rear garden to the queen’s former residence decorated with traditional stone structures, unusual brick chimneys and a bed of colorful flora.
Changdeokung
	If the palace walls of Changdeokgung could talk, visitors would probably listen in on tales of court intrigue, plotting eunuchs, and feuding royalty. Instead, through a well-informed tour guide, you will be educated on the form and function of the now-empty palace buildings scattered across acres of land in the middle of bustling Seoul. The buildings have remained largely intact over six centuries and served as a backdrop for the last chapters of the Joseon period (1392-1910). Korea’s last emperor Sunjong passed away on these grounds in 1926, and it’s commonly known that members of royal descendants lived in Nakseonjae, a cluster of unpainted palace buildings well into the late ‘80s. The entry gate to the grounds, Donhwamun, is a two-story structure dating back to the 15th century.
Joggye buddhist temple Ginseng center
	The headquarters of the Jogye Buddhist Order, Jogyesa Temple is an oasis of spiritual peace in the heart of bustling Seoul. Built in 1910, Jogyesa is the only traditional temple located within the four gates that delineated old Seoul. Located nearby is Insadong, a major tourist street of teashops, restaurants, art galleries and traditional craft shops.
Namdaemun market
	Namdaemun, which literally means “South Gate,” was as one might imagine the location of the southern entrance through the wall that used to surround Seoul. The wall is long gone, but the gate still remains standing proudly in the rotary adjacent to one of the busiest markets in Korea, Namdaemun. Namdaemun is a popular destination for both Koreans and foreigners alike, because if you’re looking for anything, whether it is traditional oriental medicine, leather goods or even Halloween decorations, Namdaemun is the place to go. Namdaemun is a barometer of Seoul's economic situation and where Seoulites and tourists can comparison shop for the lowest prices on all sorts of goods. The streets are teeming with shopkeepers selling their wares in English, Japanese and Korean. So tourists concerned about a language barrier shouldn’t hesitate to visit this world-famous shopping paradise.
Insandong Antiqiue shop alley
	The largest market of traditional Korean art and products, Insadong is the ideal place for visitors who want to experience the true character of Korea with its subtle, enduring beauty. Once you are in Insadong, you will immediately be drawn to the small alleys lined with numerous shops and galleries, both tiny and spacious: antique shops, Korean stationery stores, frame shops, handicraft shops, pottery and porcelain shops, bookstores and painting studios, and art supply stores. In addition, restaurants and cafes serve traditional food and teas. The Insadong Festival, held every October, showcases pungmulnori, or folk musical instrumental performances, and features a food court serving local cuisine from regions all across the country. Recently, a shuttle bus service linking galleries in different parts of Seoul has started running between Insadong and Pyeongchangdong.
Cheonggye stream
	Seoul, it has been transformed into one of the most beautiful leisure place in Seoul. The history of Cheonggyecheon begins even before the Joseon dynasty designated Seoul as its capital. Seoul is surrounded by mountains in nature and the stream developed naturally by its natural geographical reasons. Often the stream caused floods, therefore, it needed extensive construction work countless times. During the Japanese colonial period, the colonial government proposed many plans to renovate Cheonggyecheon, however, it failed every time due to lack of resources. In the 1950s, Cheonggyecheon was full of garbage and waste that symbolized the hardships of Korea- the nation had gone through the colonial period and the Korean War. After the Korean War, it served as the biggest wholesale market in Seoul for the past 40 years. However, Cheonggyecheon started major extensive renovation construction in 2003 led by the city of Seoul. Its construction was completed in 2005 and Cheonggyecheon is no longer the poorest area in Seoul, instead it is now a beautiful tourist attraction and leisure place for Koreans.