2008 Earth Day in Seoul, South Korea

If you just happen to be in Seoul this weekend, you won’t want to miss the 2008 Earth Day celebration.

No, contrary to the hopes of men across Korea, actress Kim Tae Hee will not be there wrestling in fruit salad to save the Earth. And though the celebration is on April 20 (420 to cannabis lovers), smoking a joint will get you swiftly arrested in South Korea. No fun? Don’t dispare.

There’s a great lineup of events planned to generate awareness of environmental issues and bring Koreans more in touch with their green side.

Here’s a schedule of events that will take place this Sunday in Seoul Plaza, outside Seoul City Hall.

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Booths and Events (11 AM - 5 PM)

• Yard 1: Save the River of Life.

The event celebrates river restoration projects throughout Korea.

• Yard 2: Energy, Climate Protection and United Citizens — a future generation of the blue planet!

This event will focus on renewable energy such as wind and solar, energy efficiency, and bicycling as a green form of transportation.

• Yard 3: The Taean Peninsula.

Remember that massive oil spill that slicked the Taean National Park and all who live there in dirty black crude? (See this EcoWorldly video from when we went to help with the cleanup.) These events will discuss the spill and what’s being done to help the devastated fishing communities affected by it.

Stage Events (11 AM - 3:30 PM)

• 11:00-14:00: 1,000 Wishes for the Earth

Seoul Earth Day organizers hope to gather 1,000 messages of hope for the planet, written by Earth Day participants.

• 12:00: Love the Earth — experience an empty bowl

Buddhism environmental group ‘Eco Buddha‘ will join participants for a lunch of simple, low-cost food. In the end, participants will hopefully have an empty bowl, but a big love for the Earth and the will to practice a sustainable lifestyle.

• 2:00: Earth Day Celebrations

• 2:30: Kiss of Life on Earth! - Photo Time

To quote the event’s organizers, “our bodies came from the Earth again, you know, again, going back to the soil.” Participants will kneel and kiss the Earth.

• 2:35 - 3:30: Concerts

There are some rumors that singer and actress Lee Hyori will be at the Earth Day events.

The planned events, however, have a kindergarten choir.

There’s much more to this green lineup, including art, women solidarity, recycling, and animal rights events.

The theme of the Earth Day celebrations, “Running Rivers,” is also an aptly chosen one. Believe it or not, the new Korean government wants to build a canal from Seoul in the north to Busan in the South to transport goods. Yes, that’s right. A big honking canal. As in a return to the 19th Century Erie Canal days. Not only would it split the nation completely in two, it would also have a major impact on most rivers in the country and the species therein. Take part in this Earth Day appeal to stop the project.

More information: Earth Day Korea (The ever tech-heavy websites of Korea don’t disappoint here.)

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