SEOUL: Hurray for Hallyuwood, a US$2 billion tourist centre in a Republic of Korea's (ROK) province hopes will flourish amid widespread Asian interest in Korean dramas, music and film stars.

Dubbed Hallyuwood, a play on words incorporating "Korean wave" and "Hollywood," the planned facility north of the capital Seoul will give fans of Korean entertainment the chance to walk in the shadows of their favourite stars.

Its developers hope the surge in interest in Korean pop culture in Asian countries will lead to a steady flow of visitors.

"(Hallyuwood will) ultimately create an East Asian culture that will hold its own against a Western culture that is championed by Hollywood," said Sohn Hak-kyu, governor of Kyonggi Province, at a press conference on Tuesday.

Asian visitors would want to come to a place that celebrates Asian entertainment and stands a world away from US-dominated pop culture, he added.

Construction is set to start in the next few months on the US$1.95 billion centre that will celebrate the best of Korean entertainment with a walk of fame, a village of the stars and performance halls.

There will also be hotels, restaurants and plenty of backdrops for photos that incorporate settings of popular Korean films and TV shows.

Hallyuwood, a 30-hectare facility, is scheduled for completion in 2008 and Sohn said he hoped it would be open in time to attract some of the visitors heading for Beijing for the Summer Olympics that year.

The facility will look to capitalize on the success of Korean stars such as Bae Yong-joon, star of Korean soap opera "Winter Sonata."

(China Daily 02/03/2005 page8)