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My hometown od the south sea. I see the blue water is front of my eyes. I can`t forget it even in my dreams, The calm sea of my hometown...In his song, `I Want to Go`, Lee Eun-sang, a famous Korean poet, describes his longing for his hometown, Masan, and the sea surrounding the port city he left when he was young. Masan was opened to foreign trade in 1899, the third year of King Kojong`s `kwangmu`(martial brilliance)reign. This was during the Great Han Empire. and outside powers were intensifying their efforts to penetrate the country. Attractive for its strategic military and economic importance at the time, the port city suffered in the foreign imperialists race to seize control of Korea, but at the same time modernized in its struggle to stave off a takeover. Masan city, with a population of more than 430,000, is an artistic center, producing a number of prominent artist including: renowned poets Lee Eun-sang and Chon Sang-byung composer Cho Du-nam, children`s literary writer Lee Won-soo and sculptor Mun Shin. Masan is also famous for its natural beauty - Totsom Island, Kwangam Beach, as well as the Muhak and P`alyong Mountains. Masan is preparing a wide range of commemorative projects for the upcoming centennial, including the establishment of a municipal folklore museum and the publication of a book chronicling the 100-year history of Masan as an international port. The Ministry of Information and Communication is issuing a commemorative for the centennial. With its state-of-the-art port facilities, Masan is transforming itself into a central trade center and export base.