Season Guide - Korea - Hilton Racing

Season Guide

Korea - Yeongam

2010 is the year when Formula 1 motor racing arrives in South Korea, with the first ever Korean Formula 1 Grand Prix set to join this world wide sport. This exciting arrival will see South Korea propelled onto the world stage.

Korea has certainly not had a dull existence, with China situated to the East and Japan to the West; it has spent most of its history in a tug of war between the two countries. It was not until 1910 that Korea was finally annexed by the Japanese, with them ruling the country until the end of the Second World War. The fate of Korea was sealed after the occupation and liberation by the Soviet and U.S. forces, at the end of the war when the country was divided into North Korea by the Russians and by the Americans into South Korea. Without the prior consultation of the Korean people on this division it resulted in the country spiraling into civil unrest and eventually war. An armistice was agreed between North and South Korea in 1953, although a peace treaty was never actually signed! The North of the country still remains under the sole rule of the Korean Workers’ Party, whilst the South of the country has fully embraced democracy and prospered in the process.

In recent years, South Korea has built itself up from nowhere to become the 3rd biggest economy in Asia, and the 11th largest in the world, it has become particularly well known for its involvement with the automotive and electronics industry. The capital city of South Korea, Seoul is a dynamic, political, financial, educational and cultural hub. It is a 600-year-old capital, and a rarely explored Asian city that has a fascinating culture of Confucian rules and democratic values.

F1 CIRCUIT & HILTON HOTEL

The new Formula 1 racing circuit is situated in Yeongam, which lies in the South Cholla province (about 250 miles south of Seoul). The Korean circuit, like many other new circuits has been designed by Herman Tilke, costing an estimated £140 million pounds to build. The Korean track has a 7 year race deal agreement with Formula 1 set up by the Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO) and the local Cholla-Namdo regional government.

If you are looking to explore the capital city before or after the race weekend, Hilton Hotels has two properties located in the heart of Seoul.