By Seo Soo-min
Staff Reporter

Before using a newspaper to sit on that wet bench in Pyongyang, make sure the paper does not have the face of North Korea? National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il, or the late leader Kim Il-sung.

Remember that your guide will be the most important person during your stay in North Korea, so make sure you keep a good relationship with him or her. Avoid political discussions.

These are some of the tips in the booklet published this week by the Institute of Political Education for Unification, called ?uide to North Korea, in light of the ever-increasing numbers of South Koreans visiting North Korea.

?e wanted to publish something that would be of actual help to the people who come here for education sessions prior to visiting the North, said Hong Myon-ki, an official at the government-run institute.

South Korean law mandates an education session at the institute before its nationals visit North Korea.

The 200-page booklet features introductory knowledge of the northern part of the peninsula, such as its geography, famous sightseeing spots and visa registration procedures, as well as practical tips on situations visitors are likely to face during their stay in the little-known state.

For instance, Page 87 advises readers about table manners, noting that unlike in South Korean restaurants, guest have to order kimchi and vegetables in addition to the main dish.

?hereas in South Korea, where people usually pour more alcoholic beverage into a glass only after someone completely drinks its contents, North Koreans add more liquor to the glass even when it is not empty, the book says, adding that taking one? own drinks to restaurants is welcome.

The booklet also contains a part explaining the difference in common vocabularies of South and North Korea, in order to prevent misunderstandings. Whereas South Koreans use the English word ?uice, for example, North Koreans prefer a word in pure Korean, translated as ?weet Water of Fruits, and pronounced ?wail tanmul.

Contents of the published material will also be posted on the institute? website (www. Uniedu.go.kr), but only in Korean.

Such efforts to provide information on the little-known half of the Korean peninsula is expected to continue, as traffic between the two Koreas increases steadily with the improvement of inter-Korean relations after the June summit in Pyongyang.

Next week, the second delegation of l00 South Koreans, who have been separated from their Northern relatives since the Korean War (l950-l953), will visit Pyongyang for a three-day family reunion, and the same number from the North will visit Seoul as well. It will be the second reunion this year after the one that was held Aug. l5-l8.
However, so far, the vast majority of people who visited North Korea are tourists to the North? scenic Mt. Kumgang, which has attracted more than 350.000 South Koreans over two years.