In this day and age when speed matters most of the time a movement is catching on to keep things at a slower pace. Taking part are not people but cities.
Hadong County in South Gyeongsang Province is saying it wants to adopt the so-called "Slow City" movement. The birthplace of the movement is Italy with the main office "Cittaslow" managing one-hundred registered cities around the world.
The organization selects towns and other locations that offer a serene alternative to the daily hustle and bustle.
So far in Korea, three locations in South Jeolla Province have been selected to become official slow city members. A team of Korean inspectors is expected to go to the selected locations starting next month to see whether the places fit the slow city criteria followed by a team from Italy later in November with final decisions made next year.
Speaking of criteria to become a slow city there are quite a few.
The key is to have abundant natural surroundings and traditional cultural sites.
The presence of huge retail stores and fast-food chains are a big no-no since they symbolize the fast culture most people live in. So while the rest of the country focuses on keeping things fast places like Hadong County plan to take a different direction.
It already has the right natural backdrop Jirisan National Park and the Sumjin River that flows from the Jeolla provinces. As for the alternative to fast food Hadong County is promoting green tea and Asian plums known as maesil.
Shin Haejoo, Arirang News.
SEP 08, 2008
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Friday, SEP 03, 2010, (KST) 
