The Dominican Republic is a tourist paradise to those itching to escape an uptight life and heal their body and soul.

The nation of tropical islands in the Caribbean Sea has 1,600 kilometers of coastlines and 400 kilometers of picturesque beaches. It also has a treasure trove of ecological attractions: national parks, mountain ranges, green fairways, waterfalls and rivers.

Over five centuries of Caribbean, Latin American and African heritage have produced a melting pot of cultures, best represented in the carnival, which is celebrated annually during the whole of February.

The Embassy of the Dominican Republic is hosting the first photograph exhibition in Korea, “Our country, our people and our carnival,” at the Korea Foundation Gallery in Seoul from April 24-May 9.

Works by Dominican photographers, Juan de los Santos and Mariano Hernandez, provide a glimpse into the vivacious celebration on the streets of capital Santo Domingo and other cities and towns. 

Exotic and colorful costumes, masks, makeups and floats are displayed to represent different characters, such as the devil, aboriginal people, African slaves, chicken thief, mentally-ill mother and joker in a black tuxedo, among others.

“The carnival is a physical manifestation of the Dominican spirit of warmth, happiness and passion, expressed through our traditional music, Merengue and Bachata,” Dominican Ambassador Grecia Pichardo told the crowd of over 20 diplomats at the opening reception on April 27.

“Dominicans smile, laugh, sing and dance together through the parade, letting out our desires, complaints and fantasies. We celebrate the simple gift of being alive and able to wake up to a new day.”

As the oldest carnival in the Americas, the event traces its root to 1520, when the island was under Spanish colonial rule following Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the “New World” in 1492.

Pichardo, who has been ambassador to Korea for 3 1/2 years, said one of her main goals is to attract more Korean tourists to her country.

Tourism is the main driver of the Dominican economy, which has enjoyed stability and grew by over 7 percent last year, the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean. More than 5 million tourists flock to the island sanctuary to relax on the white-sand beaches, drink cocktails, dance and party, as well as go snorkeling, scuba-diving, hiking and rafting.

The country also has world-class resorts and hotels, equipped with a variety of entertainment and recreational facilities, including golf courses. Korean honeymooners can fly to the Dominican Republic from New York City in three hours.

The tourism haven produces cigars, rum, chocolate, coffee and amber at an annual average temperature of 26 degrees Celsius.

The Dominican Republic and Korea established diplomatic relations in 1962, and have since expanded cooperation in knowledge-sharing, e-government and information communication technology.

The two countries collaborate through the Forum for Latin America and East Asia, the Central American Integration System and the Inter-American Development Bank.

By Joel Lee (joel@heraldcorp.com)