North Korean arts troupe concert tickets to be won on lucky draw

SEOUL, South Korea, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- North Korea's cultural delegation will travel to the South early next week ahead of their performances held on the occasion of the Pyeongchang Olympics, South Korea's Unification Ministry said.

Unification Ministry Spokesman Baik Tae-yun said Thursday that the 140-member arts troupe will travel to the South in two separate teams on Monday and Tuesday next week through the Gyeongui overland route.

The same cross-border route will be used for their return to the North on Feb. 12.

The North's arts troupe, composed of singers, dancers, and orchestra members, will stage its first concert next Thursday at Gangneung Art Center, located in the sub-host city of the Olympic Games.

The second performance will be held in Seoul, at the Korea National Theater on Feb. 11.

Officials haven't finished deciding on the exact contents of the performances but further discussions will take place through an inter-Korean hotline, according to Baik.

The spokesman added that the North Korean troupe members will not be paid for their performance and that the expenses of the concerts are currently being calculated.

International sanctions ban cash payments to North Koreans.

The Ministry also announced Thursday that it will hold a lucky draw for South Korean citizens wishing to attend either of the performances.

From Friday noon local time, South Koreans will have 24 hours to enter a draw on an ticketing website to win a pair of seats at one of the concerts.

1,060 tickets will be given away to 530 randomly drawn citizens next Tuesday.

The remaining seats will be filled by socially disadvantaged citizens, displaced people and war-separated family members, according to the Ministry.