The move towards alternative energy is in full bloom across the world. While many countries focus on solar, wind, geothermal or biomass, South Korea is heading in a different and unique direction. It intends to tap its long coastline through tidal power. There was an energy source that never ran out, the energy for each harvest and that you could harvest it twice a day. Would you be interested? You bet you would. Well, the answer is all around the world along coastlines. It is the energy inherent in the tides of the ocean as the gravity tug of war between the Earth and Moon plays out each day.

The energy in the ocean can be subtle, but it is indisputable. Just think about what you saw in the videos of the huge tsunami in Southeast Asia in 2004. There is an absolutely huge amount of energy in tides as the flow to and fro. Even better, we can predict how big the tides will be every day and how much energy is in both the incoming and outgoing tides. It makes for a perfect energy platform if we can figure out how to tap it.

Well, the South Koreans obviously feel that they can. This has become clear with the announcement that Korea Western Power Corp will build and operate no less than 20 tidal power plants along the coast of the country. The plants will go up fast with the final one being completed no later than 2014. The total cost? A cool one billion dollars. In short, the South Koreans are getting very serious about tidal energy and this project will make them the biggest tidal energy producers in the world…by far.

Tidal energy gets a minute fraction of the publicity of the other alternative energies. If the South Koreans new technology is successful, that could change very quickly.

Tags : South Korea Business, South Korea News, South Korea Science

South Korea has recently become one of the more popular tourist attractions for people. The tourism infrastructure in South Korea is quickly developing, and the country is now more conducive to visitors than ever before. This guide outlines the top five reasons why people must travel to South Korea.

1. The Cities – The capital of South Korea, Seoul is one of the most important cities in the world. It is the perfect mix of industrial development and culture, with a number of different sightseeing attractions that tourists can visit. Seoul has a great number of activities on offer and it is also a great place to visit with family, as it boasts amusement parks and other attractions for children as well.

2. Culture – The culture of South Korea has developed its own distinctive characteristics, and boasts several great dance forms, art exhibitions, dramatic performances and musical genres unique to this region. The music and dance forms are especially famous, with each region in the country having its own style of music and dance. Visitors to the country will be able to view an authentic South Korean dance performance in any of the major cities.

3. Korean Food – South Korean food has gradually become one of the most popular cuisines in the world, with people setting up South Korean food restaurants in different countries. While rice is the staple ingredient used in South Korean cuisine, a typical meal consists of a variety of meats and vegetables along with the rice dish. South Korean food experiments with seafood and rice along with a range of fresh ingredients. Kim chi, Bibimbap and Bulgogi are some of the most famous local dishes that visitors should try.

4. Scenic Beauty – South Korea has so much more to offer than its culture and cuisine, with a number of extraordinarily beautiful natural wonders that are located across the country. The most famous of these places is the Checju-do Island, off the coast of the country, which is host to Mount Halla, the tallest mountain in Korea. Apart from this, there is also Tongnae, which is a hot spring in the South East of Korea.

5. Hospitality – The people in South Korea are well known for their hospitality and they not only have opened up their country but also their hearts to visitors. Tourists to this country will find it hard to find an inhospitable Korean, and it is not uncommon for tourists to be invited to locals’ homes to experience the Korean way of life.

Tags : South Korea Attractions, South Korea Holiday, Tourist Attractions