Koreans who wear Hanbok or traditional costume may get into museums and other major cultural institutions for free under a grand strategy designed to revitalize Korean style and traditions. The government would also set up a Korean Cuisine Academy next year to invite and educate chefs from Korean restaurants overseas. Ten ministries including culture and tourism agreed the “Han” plan on Thursday. It includes strategies to boost the status and global profile of six areas: Hangul (Korean language), Hansik (cuisine), Hanbok (clothing), Hanok (Korean architecture), Hanji (traditional paper) and Korean music.

Under the plan, some 40 projects would be implemented until 2011. They include setting up 30 Hangul schools for foreign workers and foreign-born spouses of Koreans, a certification system for good Korean restaurants overseas, and doubling the number of Korean restaurants overseas to 7,600. Other ideas are a Hanbok day in government offices, a Hanok village in the new administrative capital, and Hanji business cards, citations and documents in government offices. The government also wants to support Korean music and culture schools in 15 countries and develop traditional music ringtones for mobile phones.

Culture and Tourism Minister Kim Myung-gon said the budget for the plan is around W27 billion. “We aim to bring our national brand value ? which has been estimated ay US$86.59 billion -- from 10th in the world to eighth,” Kim added.

(englishnews@chosun.com )