Dear Delegates,

The opening of IPhO-2004 is less than three months away. Preparation has been going very well and we look forward to your arrival in July.

The IPhO-2004 Organizing Committee has received the confirmation forms from the 72 countries listed below. We thank each country for its confirmation and we welcome all of you.

We believe IPhO-2004 will have the highest number of participating countries in a competition since the establishment of the International Physics Olympiad in 1967.

Albania, Argentina, Greece and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which missed the previous competition, are returning to IPhO this year. In addition, France and Hong Kong will participate in IPhO for the first time as well as Ecuador, who will send a team of observers.

We are also contacting several other countries that have not yet expressed their intentions, in the hopes they will also participate in IPhO-2004.

Online registration will be available on May 17, 2004. We will provide each contact person with IDs and passwords for access to the online registration website when the system is ready.

Most international flights into Korea arrive at Incheon International Airport (http://www.airport.or.kr/Eng/home.jsp). However, we selected Gimhae International Airport (http://www.airport.co.kr/eng/dba/airport/gimhae/index.htm), which is close to Pohang, and Pohang Domestic Airport (http://www.airport.co.kr/eng/dba/airport/pohang/index.htm) as our official airports. The IPhO-2004 transportation team will provide shuttle service from these airports to each venue, Gyeongju Hilton Hotel or POSTECH.

There are only a limited number of flights from Incheon to Gimhae, and none to Pohang. The most convenient way is to take a shuttle bus to Gimpo airport (http://www.airport.co.kr/eng/dba/airport/gimpo/index.asp), which is about a 40-minute ride. The bus fare is 4,500 Korean Won (approximately US$4). Only Korean currencies are accepted.

When you arrive at Incheon International Airport, the IPhO-2004 transportation team will assist you throughout the connection process. Please look for the IPhO-2004 sign.

There are frequent flights from Gimpo to both Gimhae and Pohang. The Organizing Committee recommends that the delegates fly to Gimhae International Airport, because it is a major airport and less likely to be affected by inclement weather. Because IPhO-2004 will be during the summer traveling season, we suggest you reserve your flights early. Please contact your travel agent for detailed flight schedules. Please note that the delegates are responsible for the travel cost from their home countries to Pohang or Gimhae.

If you plan to arrive in Korea before July 15, 2004 or depart after July 23, 2004, please let us know well in advance. The IPhO-2004 transportation team will be available for assistance on July 13~14 as well as July 15, 2004 for delegates who will be arrive before the official period. We can also arrange lodging at the Gyeongju Hilton Hotel, the venue for leaders, or you can make a reservation at another hotel for your convenience. However for your safety, we recommend staying at Gyeongju Hilton Hotel.

For more detailed information, please refer to the 2nd circular or the official website of IPhO-2004 (http://www.ipho2004.or.kr)

As we mentioned at the last circular, the voluntary fee for each delegation is US$3,500 as an established custom in the International Physics Olympiad. The fee for each observer is US$1,100 and for each visitor is US$1,000.

Accordingly, you can pay the above fees either in cash when you arrive in Korea or as a bank transfer in advance. If you choose the bank transfer, please make your payments in US dollars to the following bank account:

• Bank: KorAm Bank, Science & Technology Promotion C. Branch Office
• Branch Add: 635-2 Yeoksam-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-703, Korea
• Account Number: 186-00030-434
• Swift Code: KOAMRSE
• Account Name: IPHO-2004

After you remit your voluntary fee, observers or visitors fee via bank transfer, please send us your receipt by fax.(Fax Number: +82 2 563 8931)

Any foreigners wishing to enter the Republic of Korea must have a valid passport and obtain a Korean visa before arrival. However, citizens from the following 49 participating countries can enter Korea and stay during the IPhO-2004 official period without entry visas, according to Visa Exemption Agreements, or in accordance with principles of reciprocity or national interest.

All other countries invited to IPhO-2004 are requested to apply for visas at a Korea Embassy or Consulate. For more information, please consult the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade at http://www.mofat.go.kr/en/visa/e_visa.mof. You can also find the location of the nearest Korean Embassy or Consulate at http://www.mofat.go.kr/mission/missions_map_en.mof. We would like to ask you to obtain visas before coming to Korea by all means, especially, if you plan to pass through a 3rd country in order to enter Korea.

If there is no Korean Embassy or Consulate in your country, it is possible to obtain landing visas at Incheon International Airport or Gimhae International Airport. Please note the following requirements:

1. A passport valid for at least six months.
2. An official invitation letter issued by IPhO-2004.
3. Two recent passport-sized color photos for visa application form.

Above all, if your delegates need to obtain landing visas, please let us know in advance. We will send you an official invitation with a list of your team members issued by the IPhO-2004 Organizing Committee. We ask you to bring the official invitation when you come to Korea in order to pass through a 3rd country or obtain landing visas without any problems.

The tentative program of IPhO-2004 is as below.

As you may see from the above tentative program, the theoretical and experimental examinations will be held on July 17^th and 19^th. There will also be various cultural events throughout the competition, with more opportunities than ever before for the participants to fully experience the host country's traditional culture and technological development.

The delegation will have the opportunity to see the state-of-the-art science and industrial complex in Pohang, the research facilities of Pohang University and the historical remains of the Shilla Dynasty in Gyeongju. Furthermore, IPhO-2004 will provide students the opportunity to meet past physics Nobel Prize laureate, Bob Laughlin, who will speak to the students about his knowledge and experience in the field of physics.

In addition, we are preparing other special events for IPhO-2004, such as the POSCO Creativity Festival or opportunity to visit a Korean Home. We will provide you more information about each day's programs through our official website.

Gyeongju Hilton Hotel will be used as a place for translation and moderation of problems as well as leaders' accommodation. Computers will be available and installed with multi-language programs through Microsoft XP. You can also bring your own laptop.

Standard power supply in Korea is 220V / 60Hz.
The shape of the outlet is shown below.

For more detailed information of IPhO-2004 and the most recent updates, please visit our official website (http://www.ipho2004.or.kr), which we will update continuously.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions regarding IPhO-2004.

IPhO-2004 Organizing Committee
Room 907, KSTC Main Bldg. 635-4
Yeoksam-Dong, Kangnam-Ku, Seoul, Korea 135-703
TEL: 82-2-563-8933, 8932 FAX: 82-2-563-8931
E-Mail: secretary@ipho2004.or.kr

With best wishes, Zheong G. Khim Chairman Organizing committee of IPhO-2004