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Seoul goes green for Ireland

March 17, 2015

Some Sevit , also known as the floating Islands turned green yesterday to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The Islands on the Han River were green from dusk until 11 p.m. Tuesday. (Courtesy of The Irish Embassy)

By Emilee Jennings

Seoul’s Some Sevit (세빛섬), also known as the floating Islands turned green yesterday to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

The Islands on the Han River were green from dusk until 11pm Tuesday. The Grand Hyatt Hotel also turned green for the day. Last year saw Seoul Tower turn green to join the world-wide celebration of all things Irish.

For the last six years, iconic sites all over the world have been going green to mark St. Patrick’s Day in what is called the Global Greening.

Now Some Sevit and the Grand Hyatt Hotel will be joining a worldwide club that includes the Pyramids in Egypt, the Sydney Opera House, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the London Eye, the Empire State Building in New York, and the Great Wall of China.

Ireland is a small country of just 4.6 million people, but there are 70 million people around the world who claim Irish heritage. The love of Irish heritage and culture will be celebrated all around the world this week. Emerald green is the color most associated with the country because of its lush green pastures.

Aingeal O’Donoghue, ambassador of Ireland said “The Greening of the Some Sevit islands is also a celebration of the growing links between Ireland and Korea. We would like to thank Seoul Metropolitan Government for their enthusiasm for the project and making the greening happen this year.”

Last Saturday thousands of people turned out dressed in green to celebrate the St. Patrick’s Day festival in Sindorim.