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SCMP Reporter

A property company hopes to lure tourists with an unusual attraction: a nudist beach for Koreans over 40, and foreigners of any age.

  Korea Land plans to build a resort - with the first nudist beach in the country - on an island where the Government once planned to dump nuclear waste.

  The waste plans were scrapped after research revealed the site foundations were inappropriate and residents protested that the dump would be too close to their homes.

  But one major obstacle facing Korea Land is the attitudes of most locals, with their strong Confucianist traditions and conservative outlook.

  'We are surveying public opinion through the Internet,' said spokesman Kang Young-su. 'Public opinion is important for a company. If less than 30 per cent consent to a nudist beach, we will change plans and admit only foreigners.'    If Koreans do not object, the company plans to open the beach to local couples over 40 and to all foreigners.

  'Tourists around the world go to Beijing to see the Great Wall, but no one comes to Seoul,' said Mr Kang.

  'We hope that this resort will be an incentive for many foreigners to visit Korea.'   Korea Land is gearing up to open the resort before the 2002 World Cup, which is sponsored by South Korea and Japan.

  The company also hopes that a new international airport under construction off the west coast will help bring in tourists from around the world.

  'We hope Koreans can come and enjoy the beach as a way to return to nature, and we expect environmental groups to support the idea,' said Mr Kang.

  'It will give people a chance to escape the burdens of civilisation.'   Korea Land, which is working on creating tourist centres on hundreds of islands off the west coast, is confident the project will help boost the industry.

  But conservative attitudes still prevail, and this summer Pusan police even suggested fining people who 'over-expose' their skin.



Developer hopes nudist beach will put country on tourist map