1st Korean cruise sets to hit the water in February

Harmony Cruise, a Korean cruise liner, will start operation of its cruise ship 'Club Harmony' on February 16th. The ship will be the first cruise ship to operate in Korea. The company held a press conference on January 17th in Seoul to announce the new launch.

The Korean first cruise is measured similar to double soccer stadiums, at 577 feet long and 85 feet wide. It has a total of 383 cabins that can accommodate 1,000 people.

The ship also has an outdoor swimming pool, jacuzzis, a wide screen cinema, fitness clubs, spas, kids clubs, high-class restaurants like a traditional European style cruise liner. The 'Club Harmony' will be deployed in Korea to Japan routes, and then on to a Japan route in March. Also, the ship will operate in China via the East Sea in the summer.

Mr. Hui-Seung Han, CEO of Harmony Cruise, said, "Until now, the domestic cruise industry in Korea has been 100% dependent on foreign cruise ships, but it is not wholly necessary anymore," and, "The Korean cruise industry has grown steadily and now outbound travelers have surpassed 30,000 people."

He added, "There were many difficulties like a lack of systems and few human resources, but we could go down in the cruise industry's history thanks to help from all walks of life with great interest and the efforts from all employees." < 김보람 기자 brkim@ksg.co.kr >