Anticipation Building Ahead of Korea’s 1st F1 Grand Prix

A road hosted an unusual event Wednesday afternoon in front of the government office of South Jeolla Province in Muan County.

A military marching band performed an energetic song while a rare procession of extraordinary vehicles staged an eye-catching parade of cars.

When a Lamborghini Murchielago, Ferrari F40, Chevrolet Master Deluxe Town Sedan and Fiat 500 passed by and honked their horns en masse, racing girls and children on a double decker bus cheerfully waved to onlookers.

More than 180 cars were used to stage the car parade. Participants promoted the 2010 Formula One Korea Grand Prix, the first event of its kind to be hosted by Korea, as they traveled a six-kilometer path through downtown Mokpo from the province’s office.

○ Four-day F1 fete to continue from Wednesday

Anticipation is heating up over the F1 Korea Grand Prix, with a series of cultural events scheduled Friday through Sunday ahead of the race at Yeongam County Saturday.

The car parade will be staged along an 11.8-kilometer route from Mokpo Peace Plaza to Guho Plaza and Yudal Stadium and back to Mokpo Peace Plaza at 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

The opening ceremony of the “F1 Speed Up Festival,” the official cultural event of the Korea Grand Prix, will be held at Mokpo Peace Plaza from 7 p.m. Friday. A performance signaling the event’s opening and the logo song will make their public debuts.

Concerts featuring pop music singers will be held at Mokpo Peace Plaza. Park Bong-sun, chief of the F1 organizing committee’s PR team, said, “The Korea Grand Prix will serve as an opportunity to promote diverse Korean cultural content to the world.”

○ Wide variety of events

A wealth of information will be provided to visitors at F1 PR centers, which have been set up at the parking lot of Mokpo Peace Plaza and Seashore Drive. Visitors can play racing simulation games and see an exhibition of racing, classic and super cars.

Other events are designed for interactive participation by the audience, with one offering first-hand experience at an F1 race, including tire changing at a mock pit stop as seen in movies or TV. A cart race experience will be offered at the leisure cruise pier at Mokpo Peace Plaza to raise funds for needy children who cannot afford daily meals.

Cultural events will also be conducted at the Korea International Circuit, the official course for the Korea Grand Prix. A demonstration will combine skydiving, a brash band performance, a king’s parade, a performance of Ganggangsulae group dance, a taekwondo demonstration, and a drum dance to be staged by more than 400 people.

The Korean Air Force’s flight display team Black Eagles will also stage an air show, flying T-50 trainer jets produced with homegrown technology.

shjung@donga.com