Dear Delegates,

The opening of IPhO-2004 is now just a month away. Preparation has been going very well and we look forward to your arrival in July. As of today, the IPhO-2004 Organizing Committee has received confirmation forms from 73 countries. We thank each country for its confirmation and we welcome all of you.

Online registration was closed on May 15, 2004. However, if you did not register your team members, please visit the online registration website as soon as possible.

We provided each contact person with IDs and passwords via e-mail and you can access to the online registration website through the official IPhO-2004 website (http://211.116.129.27/home/eng/).

To ensure comfort and convenience during your stay in Korea, we would like to ask you to complete the registration form. Please refer to the useful information in the pop up window that will appear when you open the registration website. We especially ask you to fill out the form regarding accommodation and flight schedule in its entirety.

If you have problems such as booking flights or contestant selection, please let us know in advance so we can offer alternative arrangements.

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 the Visa Exemption Agreements and to the 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, 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

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

We ask the delegates from Cuba and Macedonia to provide a list of your team members as soon as possible. The Republic of Korea does not have formal diplomatic relations with the above two countries, therefore the IPhO-2004 Organizing Committee should notify the Immigration Bureau of the list of your team members in order to admit your delegates into Korea.

As we mentioned in our precious circulars, we selected Gimhae International Airport (http://gimhae.airport.co.kr), and the Pohang Domestic Airport (http://pohang.airport.co.kr) as our official airports.

In the chart below, the first shows how to go directly from Incheon International Airport to Gimhae International Airport, while the second is to Pohang Domestic Airport via Gimpo Domestic Airport.

When you arrive at Incheon International Airport, IPhO-2004 team will assist you throughout the connection process. Flights from Incheon International Airport to Gimhae International Airport are available 3 or 4 times a day. Please contact your local travel agency for more information.

If you would like to transfer via Gimpo Domestic Airport, the most convenient way is to take a shuttle bus to Gimpo International Airport (http://gimpo.airport.co.kr/), which is about a 40-minute ride away. The bus fare is 4,500 Korean Won (approximately US$4). Only Korean currencies are accepted.

When you arrive at each airport, please look for the IPhO-2004 Information Desk. The location of the information desk at each airport is as follows:

The IPhO-2004 team will provide a shuttle service between the official airports and each venue, Gyeongju Hilton Hotel or POSTECH.

The IPhO-2004 competition is during the summer travel season, therefore we suggest you book your flights early. Please contact your travel agent for detailed flight schedules to the official airports in Pohang or Gimhae.

For more detailed information, please refer to the 3^rd circular or the official website of IPhO-2004 (http://www.ipho2004.or.kr)

If you plan to arrive in Korea before July 15, 2004 or depart after July 23, 2004, please let us know in advance. We can also arrange lodging at the Gyeongju Hilton Hotel, the venue for leaders, or you can make a reservation at another hotel. However, for your convenience, we recommend staying at Gyeongju Hilton Hotel.

The IPhO-2004 team will help you on how to reach your next destination, however we cannot provide you transportation or a guide excluding official period.

As we informed in our last circular, you can pay the fees either in cash when you arrive in Korea or in advance as a bank transfer. If you choose to make a bank transfer, please make your payments in US dollars to the following bank account:

• Bank: KorAm Bank, Science & Technology Promotion C. Branch Office
• Branch Address: 635-2 Yeoksam-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-703, Korea
• Account Number: 186-00030-434
• Swift Code: KOAMKRSE
• 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). It would also be very helpful if you send the fee by June 30, 2004.

If you have any requests regarding your fees because of financial difficulties, please let us know as soon as possible.

We recommend that all members of your team acquire the necessary medical and travel insurance before you leave your country. Although we have insured the IPhO-2004 event, this insurance does not cover each individuals in cases of injuries or accidents.

Medical service will be provided 24 hours a day in Pohang and Kyeongju. There are also major hospitals near to each venue.

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 are updating 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