President Roh Moo-hyun vowed on Wednesday (Aug. 13) to promote the nation as a “cultural leader” over the next five years and to attract more than 10 million foreign tourists annually.

In a speech to mark the opening of the 2003 Gyeongju World Culture Expo, Roh said that becoming a knowledge superpower has been a major goal of the participatory government.

“I will exert all possible efforts to turn the nation into one of the world’s top five culture industry nations,” he said.

Roh said culture policies will be focused on helping video, audio, animation, game and other cultural industries improve their international competitiveness.

“Steps will be taken to raise cultural industries as the nation’s growth engine to realize the $20,000 gross domestic product per capita,” he said.

Emphasizing the nation’s dream of opening an era of peace and prosperity by putting an end to its history of confrontation and conflict, Roh expressed his hope that the expo will contribute to spreading the message globally.

About 2,500 people participated in the opening ceremony held at Expo Park. They included North Gyeongsang Province Gov. Lee Eui-geun and foreign diplomats in South Korea.

The plains of Gyeongju vibrated with the hoof beats of mythical flying horses as the 72-day expo was launched. In the opening performance, “Chonmaui Kkum (The Dream of the Flying Horse),” the sound of the horses’ hoofs was reproduced by pounding stones and clubs, traditionally used for washing clothes.

More than 80 artists, including dancers from Didim Dance Troupe and Chung-Ang University, performed the piece produced by Pyo Che-sun with advisor Lee O-ryong, a former culture minister.

The expo coincides with the Daegu Universiade, which opens Aug. 21 in the neighboring city.