Panda pair from China to arrive in Korea next month

A pair of giant pandas, which represent China, are coming to Korea soon. Samsung C&T’s resort group released Thursday pictures and video clips of a pair of giant pandas to come from Beijing. It has been 22 years since a pair of giant pandas were loaned by China between 1994 and 1999.

The migration of the giant pandas is based on the agreement that Chinese President Xi Jinping who made the first state visit to Korea in July 2014 would give a present to Korea. The two-year-old female panda is 154 centimeters tall and weighs 78.5 kilograms and the three-year-old male panda is 163 centimeters and weighs 89 kilograms.

Five names in Chinese characters were shortlisted among suggestions from 8,500 Korean and Chinese Internet users and their names will be selected shortly. The panda couple will be carried via Korean Air’s special plane in March and will be open to the public in Korea's biggest amusement park Samsung Everland from April.

The migration of the giant pandas will make Korea the 14th country that has giant pandas. The number of the endangered species is 1,864 around the world; 425 giant pandas live in Chinese zoos and only 50 giant pandas live outside China. Everland will pay one million dollars annually to China as a donation for the animal’s protection under a 15-year contract.

베이징=구자룡특파원 bonhong@donga.com