south korea tourism slogan 2023

It took six months to make the clip, using cutting-edge digital technologies. This involved training the generative AI over 80,000 times for each piece, ensuring a seamless and natural representation within the distinct style of each featured painter.

Moreover, three regional tourism promotional clips draw inspiration from popular global K-contents: “ Live Squid Game ” showcases a squid-catching game set on Ulleungdo Island; “ Queendom: Korean Archery ” unfolds as a chase game within the historic Suwon Hwaseong Fortress; and “ Guardian's Fireworks ” captures the enchanting and romantic ambiance of Haman Nakhwanori. These clips are designed to immerse visitors in the distinctive and appealing tourism offerings of each respective region.

The final clip, “ Korea Never Forgets ,” was produced based on the heartwarming true story of the Campagna couple, who went above and beyond to assist Korean tourists stranded in a snowstorm in the United States last winter. It captures the Campagna couple's trip to Korea in a documentary format, and conveys the touching message that “Korea never forgets gratitude.”

The five Korea tourism promotional clips are available for viewing on KTO’s official YouTube channel ( https://www.youtube.com/@imagineyourkorea ). The remarkable success of these promotional clips has resulted in a substantial increase in KTO's YouTube subscribers. The current count has surged by over 150,000 from the previous year, reaching an impressive 820,000 subscribers. This accomplishment solidifies KTO's position with the highest number of subscribers among all national tourism organization YouTube channels.

About Korea Tourism Organization

Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) is an organization of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST). KTO serves the interests of Korea’s tourism economy by marketing the country as an all-season visitor destination. Fascinating history, rich culture, amazing food, and friendly people combine to make South Korea one of the most visited countries. The Visit Korea Year 2023-2024 campaign promoting K-Culture includes events involving K-pop concerts, e-sports, Korean food, cultural heritages, K-Travel Road Shows packages, and promotions all year round to boost visitors to Korea. Located in East Asia, South Korea is a country of contrasts, with tourist attractions ranging from ancient mountaintop Buddhist temples such as Bulguksa Temple to the ultra-modern skyscrapers as Lotte World Tower in Seoul.

Patrice Henry & Haeri Choi [email protected] | [email protected] Korea Tourism Organization 201.585.0909

Release Summary

Korea Tourism Organization's promotional clips are a resounding success.

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“Seoul, my soul” selected as the city’s new slogan

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• Finalized with 650,000 votes after extended polling since last December
• Winner: “Seoul, my soul” (63.1%); runner-up: “Seoul for you” (36.9%)
• New slogan made public at the 2023 Hangang Light Show on Sat, Apr. 29
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South Korea ensures travellers enjoy full scale of country’s culture with new “Visit Korea Year 2023-24” campaign

ADVERTORIAL

Over the three days at ITB Berlin, Korea Tourism Organisation is delivering a cultural workshop programme at their booth (Hall 26, Stand 121), which includes a calligraphy course, hanbok photo booth and “Taste of Korea”, presenting various local delicacies.

The “Visit Korea Year 2023-24″ campaign launched by Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) aims to boost post-pandemic tourist arrivals, with 100 cultural events that invite visitors from all over the world to come and create shared memories. The”100 K-Culture Tourism Events” cover a wide range of segments, including arts, culture, sports, architecture and cuisine, enabling tourists to enjoy the fulls scale of Korean culture.

Many events, such as flowers and nature festivals will be held in the spring, which is known to be one of the most beautiful seasons for visiting the country. Among them are Jeju Island 25 th Seogwipo International Rapeseed Flower Hiking Festival (March 25-26) and the Gunhangje Festival (Marine Port Festival) in Jinhae City. Athletes can also enjoy the cherry blossom marathon in Gyeongju (April 1st) or the DMZ Run (May 20th) along the inner-Korean border.

The “Visit Korea Year 2023-24” shows a new emblem, slogan and brand identity. Designed with a traditional hanbok pattern and a gat (traditional hat) on “Visit Korea Year” letters, the emblem depicts a Korean-style vibe that reflects the country’s long-lasting tradition and contemporary lifestyle as the epicentre of art and culture. The campaigns new slogan is “Ride the Korean Wave”.

With the new brand identity, KTO is planning on adding a special “Visit Korea Year 2023-2024” page on  their website with an official promotional video

Hall 26 / Stand 121

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The Ultimate List Of Tourism Slogans From Almost Every Country In The World

From aspirational to downright cringe-y, tourism slogans give us a glimpse of the country they represent. here's a full list..

By: Yagnoseni Das Published: Jan 20, 2023 08:00 AM UTC

Not many people need convincing to travel to exotic destinations across the world. Every country has something or the other to offer to its visitors—be it vast white beaches with an unending horizon of the blue ocean, tall mountains with extensive flora and fauna, or a brightly lit city bustling with an urban population. However, every country does its best to entice travellers to maintain its booming tourism industry.

Tourism sectors have an array of practised marketing efforts rolled up their sleeves and one of the many is to sum up an entire country in just a handful of words. Tourism slogans have become a trademark of a country. From aspirational to downright cringe-y, tourism slogans give us a glimpse of the country they represent. Here’s a list of tourism slogans from almost every country in the world.

Tourism slogans from Africa

Tourism is an important economic sector for any country in Africa. So, it is only natural that the tourism slogans here are enticing, too.

• Algeria – The Journey of the Heart
• Benin – Revealing Benin
• Botswana – Our ride, your destination
• Burundi – The ‘Eden’ in the Heart of Africa
• Cameroon – Africa in Miniature
• Chad – Oasis of the Sahel
• Djibouti – Djibeauty
• Egypt – Where it all begins
• Eswatini – A Royal Experience
• Ethiopia – Land of Origins
• The Gambia – The Smiling Coast of Africa
• Ghana – Amazing Ghana
• Kenya – Magical Kenya
• Lesotho – The Kingdom in the Sky
• Madagascar – Treasure Island
• Malawi – The Warm Heart of Africa
• Mali – An Authentic Africa
• Mozambique – Come to where it all started
• Namibia – Endless Horizons
• Nigeria – Heartbeat of Africa
• Rwanda – Remember – Unite- Renew
• Sao Tome & Principe – True Tranquility
• Senegal – Where Hospitality is Natural
• Seychelles – Another World
• Sierra Leone – Sieraously Surprising
• South Africa – Inspiring New Ways
• Tanzania – Unforgettable
• Tunisia – Inspiring Tunisia
• Uganda – You’re Welcome
• Zambia – Lets Escape
• Zimbabwe – A World of Wonders

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Tourism slogans from Asia

The largest continent in the world, Asia has plenty to offer to any traveller . With a plethora of countries spreading across the continent, the slogans are just as diverse, too.

• Bahrain – Ours. Yours. Bahrain
• Bangladesh – Beautiful Bangladesh
• Bhutan – Happiness is a Place
• Brunei Darussalam – Adobe of Peace
• Cambodia – Kingdom of Wonder
• Cyprus – Cyprus in your Heart
• Georgia – Emotions are Georgia
• India – Incredible India
• Indonesia – Wonderful Indonesia
• Israel – Land of Creation
• Japan – Endless Discovery
• Jordan – Set Forth on a Great Journey
• Kazakhstan – The World of Wonders
• Kyrgyzstan – So Much to Remember
• Laos – Simply Beautiful
• Lebanon – Live Love Lebanon
• Malaysia – Truly Asia
• The Maldives –The Sunny Side of Life
• Mongolia – Go Nomadic
• Myanmar – Be Enchanted
• Nepal – Lifetime Experience
• Oman – Beauty has an Address
• Pakistan – Land of Adventure and Nature
• The Philippines – It’s More Fun in the Philippines
• Qatar – Qurated for You
• Russia – The Whole World Within Russia
• Saudi Arabia – Saudi, a Kingdom That Inspires
• Singapore — Passion Made Possible
• South Korea – Imagine Your Korea
• Sri Lanka – Hello Again Sri Lanka
• Tajikistan – Fear the Friendship
• Thailand – Amazing Thailand, it Begins with People
• Turkey – Choose Your Memories
• United Arab Emirates – Seven Emirates One Destination
• Uzbekistan – Naturally Irresistible
• Vietnam – Timeless Charm

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Tourism slogans from Europe

Europe has one of the most thriving tourism industries in the world. From Prague to Paris and Rome to Lisbon, Europe is filled with bucket-list destinations.

• Albania – Go your own way
• Austria – Feel the Spark
• Belarus – Hospitality Without Borders
• Belgium – The Place to be
• Bosnia and Herzegovina – The Heart Shaped and at your Fingertips
• Bulgaria – A Discovery to Share
• Croatia – Full of Life
• Czech Republic – Live your Dream
• Denmark – The Land of Everyday Wonder
• Estonia –Epic Estonia
• Finland – I wish I was in Finland
• France – Explore France
• Germany – Simply Inspiring
• Greece – Always Epic
• Hungary – Wow Hungary; Wellspring of Wonders
• Iceland – Come and be inspired by Iceland
• Ireland – Fill your heart with Ireland
• Italy – #treasureitaly
• Lithuania – Real is Beautiful
• Luxembourg – Daydream
• Macedonia – Macedonia Timeless
• Malta – More to Explore
• Moldova – Discover the Touristic Moldova
• Monaco – There is No Place Like Here
• Montenegro – Wild Beauty
• The Netherlands – This is: Netherlands
• Norway – Powered by Nature
• Poland – Move your Imagination
• Portugal – Can’t Skip Tomorrow
• Romania – Explore the Carpathian Gorden
• Serbia – See Serbia
• Slovakia —Travel to Slovakia, Good Idea
• Slovenia – I Feel SLOVEnia
• Spain – #spainindetail
• Sweden – Welcome to Sweden, when the time is right
• Switzerland – Get Natural
• Ukraine – Experience Ukraine
• United Kingdom – Escape the Everyday

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Tourism slogans from Oceania

Oceania is filled with exotic landscapes. With the Fiji Islands , this continent is a favourite amongst travellers.

• Australia – Come Live Our PhilAUsophy
• Kiribati – For Travellers
• New Zealand – 100% Pure
• Papua New Guinea – A Million Different Journeys
• Samoa – Where Beautiful Just Happens
• Tonga – The True South Pacific
• Vanuatu – Answer the Call of Vanuatu

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Tourism slogans from the americas.

The Americas welcome a huge number of travellers from all around the world, thanks to its innumerable tourist spots.

• Antigua and Barbuda – The Beach is Just The Beginning
• Argentina – Beats to your rhythm
• The Bahamas – Fly Away
• Barbados – Love Barbados
• Belize – Discover How to Be
• Bolivia – Bolivia Awaits You
• Brazil – Visit and Love Us
• Canada – For Glowing Hearts
• Chile – Where the Impossible is Possible
• Colombia – The Most Welcoming Place
• Costa Rica – Essential Costa Rica
• Cuba – Breathe Cuba
• Dominica – The Nature Island
• Dominican Republic – Dominican Republic Has it All
• Ecuador – Be well in Ecuador
• EI Salvador – The 45-minute Country
• Guatemala – Heart of The Mayan World
• Guyana – South America Undiscovered
• Jamaica – Heartbeat of the World
• Nicaragua – Urica Original
• Panama – Panama Surprises
• Paraguay – You Have to Feel it
• Peru – Time To Take a Trip with Your Imagination
• Saint Kitts and Nevis – Follow your Heart
• Saint Lucia – Let Her Inspire You
• Suriname – A Colorful Experience
• Uruguay – Uruguay Natural
• USA – Visit the USA
• Venezuela – Venezuela is Your Destination

Book Your Stay In Mexico

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South Korea determined to become tourism powerhouse

SEOUL – South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is going all out to make the country another Asian tourism powerhouse and create a more enjoyable tourism environment for domestic holidaymakers.

In a press briefing in Seoul on Dec 8, Second Vice-Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Jang Mi-ran expressed high hopes to turn South Korea into an appealing destination for both foreigners and locals, and exceed pre-pandemic visitor levels in 2024.

“I engaged in various tourism-related meetings with local governments, agencies and firms to gather perspectives from industry professionals, but there were not a lot of unique or special tourism products or festivals,” Ms Jang said in a briefing at the Seoul Government Complex in Jongno-gu, central Seoul.

“It is important to create tourism products that are appealing to locals and approved by them. We are recommending or introducing things if we like them first. I personally feel this applies to tourism as well,” the Vice-Minister told The Korea Herald.

Ms Jang said tourism major students who share their individual travel experiences on various social media platforms can offer realistic suggestions and showcase the charms of their home towns, as well as areas of improvement. She added that she wanted to spend more time with such students to understand the local tourism landscape.

She also emphasised the importance of creating a safer tourism environment for global and domestic visitors.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is set to organise a public participatory inspection team to root out rip-offs and discriminatory pricing. A separate team will be launched to deal with such cases and assist visitors who file complaints.

The ministry has decided to increase the number of K-tourism roadshows – which are promotional events held overseas to showcase South Korea’s traditional and contemporary cultures – from 15 to 25 in 2024.

Chinese tourists will continue to be exempt from visa fees. This was temporarily applied to Chinese travellers from September to December, and will be extended to 2024. Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia will be included in the list of exempt countries.

According to Ms Jang, travel-friendly services – such as a foreigner-exclusive mobile app for train, bus and taxi services, and an English-language navigation app – will be made available in 2024.

To quench tourists’ thirst for Korean content-related events, beauty festivals, K-pop shows, food fairs, e-sports experiences and medical tourism packages, as well as meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions tourism packages, will be expanded as well.

“We hope to attract 20 million global visitors to Korea in 2024, and exceed the pre-pandemic number of foreign travellers from 2019. We will also make the utmost effort to collaborate with local governments and tourism-related firms to support mass tourism,” she said.

In 2022, South Korea welcomed approximately 3.2 million inbound visitors, according to the Korea Tourism Organisation. Just before the Covid-19 pandemic, the country had a record 17.5 million inbound tourists in 2019. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIAN NEWS NETWORK

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No more "I Seoul U," the new slogan for Seoul will be decided by the end of the month

Starting in 2015, the slogan " I Seoul U"  has been used to promote South Korea's capital city to the globe, being used as a brand to advertise tourism to the city of Seoul.

With the gradual growth in popularity of K-culture, such as K-pop and K-dramas, more and more people from across the globe have directed their footsteps to South Korea. 

While " I Seoul U" had high expectations from South Koreans and was seen as an improvement from the previous slogan, " Hi Seoul,"  " I Seoul U"  was subject to ridicule from international English speakers. 

While " I Seoul U" was derived from the Korean phrase, " My and Your Seoul,"  many English speakers were perplexed by the slogan.

Finally, the city of Seoul is ushering in a new era of tourism by updating its slogan and launching a poll to select a new one.

The four candidate slogans were " Seoul for you," "Amazing Seoul," "Seoul, my Soul,"  and " Make it happen Seoul."  From these four, the top two and final candidates were narrowed to " Seoul, my soul"  and " Seoul for You." The poll titled "Seoul New City Brand Slogan Preference Survey" was conducted in South Korea as well as overseas. And the result was released by Seoul Metropolitan Government on February 3, 2023.

According to the result, " Seoul, my soul " received 148,000 votes (37.3%) and took first place. "Seoul for you," which received 138,000 votes (34.9%), came in second.

Interestingly, overseas voters preferred " Seoul, my soul,"  while South Korean voters preferred " Seoul for You."

The city of Seoul explained that the difference in votes between the first and second places was only 2.4% of the total number of votes and that the preferred slogan in Korea and abroad was different, so it was necessary to collect additional opinions. The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced they will have another poll between "Seoul, my soul" versus "Seoul for you," and make a final decision by the end of this month.

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I guess Seoul, my soul is a catchy name for English speakers, but not so sure how punny is it for Koreans who are not fluent in English. Seoul for you is a bit more universal - and relevant to actual Koreans as it sounds inclusive and accommodating (e.g. a Seoul not only for rich chaebols and foreign tourists)

The problem with "I Seoul U" was that they never bothered to put the localized context for English. A word for word translation won't cut it as the grammar structure of the 2 languages were different. I am good with either, "Seoul for you" or "Seoul, my soul".

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Call for Applications: Visit Korea Year 2023-2024 (Win a Fully-funded Trip)

Deadline: April 19, 2024

What draws your heart to Korea? Whether it’s a meaningful encounter, cherished moments with wonderful friends, or if memories of Korea stir emotions within you, please share your story and take part in the Visit Korea Year 2023-2024 .

In celebration of “Visit Korea Year 2023-2024”, The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism along with the Korea Tourism Organization are offering a trip to Korea for those deeply connected to the country.

• Personal stories, memories or connections to Korea. Include photos and videos to increase your chance of winning.
• “KOREA invites U” 5-day Korea Tour. Travel Period: May 20 – 24, 2024.
• One day compulsory tour & three days personalized tour package.
• Round trip tickets to Korea and travel expenses (4 nights accommodation, travel insurance, etc.).
• Mandatory joint tour (May 21, 1 day).
• Personalized tour package (3 days).
• One additional person can be supported, provided they are related to the story, or are a minor, elderly or have disabilities.

Eligibility

• Open to non-Korean nationals residing outside of Korea (Korean citizens and residents are ineligible).
• Individuals with special connections to Korea.
• Available from May 20 – May 24, 2024, for a trip to Korea (Check for passport validity, entry restrictions, etc., before applying).
• Both self-applications and recommendations are accepted.

Application

• Submitted forms and visuals will be evaluated to select the invitees
• Online interview may be requested (Notification via email)

Click here to apply

For more information, visit Korea Invites U .

Jahmel Brown is a youth leader, advocate, and opportunity connector from Jamaica, which is located in the Caribbean. He believes in the power of young people through shaping them with life-changing opportunities.

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South Korea is top source of tourists in 2023 — DOT

Boracay Island (Photo by Don Lejano/INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — South Korea is, so far, the Philippines’ top source of tourists this year, the Department of Tourism announced on Friday. 

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said South Korea has overtaken the United States, which led in terms of foreign tourist arrivals to the Philippines in 2022. 

READ: Over 2 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2022 — DOT

“[As] of today, we have over 1.5 million tourist arrivals to the Philippines and our number one top source market is the Koreans,” Frasco said in a statement. 

Tourists from South Korea, according to Frasco, are “coming on a daily basis and the numbers are increasing by the day.” 

READ: Over 1.4M foreign tourists arrived as of April 5 — DOT

While she did not mention the current record of tourist arrivals from South Korea  this year, she cited DOT data that “showed a significant pick up in Korean arrivals since last year.” 

From February 10, 2022 – or when the country lifted pandemic-induced travel restrictions – to December 31, 2022, Frasco said there were 428,014 South Korean travelers to the country. 

Prior to the pandemic, she said South Korea had always ranked first in visitor arrivals to the Philippines with 1,989,322 in 2019 alone. 

But as it had been for other countries, Frasco said tourist arrivals from South Korea “declined drastically during the pandemic, dropping to 338,877 and 6,456 for 2020 and 2021, respectively.”  

“Last year, they were at number two, because it is the United States that [provided] our number one top source market. But this year, the Koreans have reclaimed the number one spot,” she said.

The DOT on Thursday conducted welcoming rites for some 1,400 “incentive travelers” from South Korea who will arrive at the Mactan Cebu International Airport in April. 

The South Korean travelers – top agents, sellers, and distributors of the Korean branch of US-based company Unicity International – will fly to Cebu in batches on April 9, 13, 17, and 21.

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Tourism In South Korea Statistics 2023: All You Need to Know

By gowithguide travel specialist: chloe m..

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The remarkable rise to international stardom of KPOP and K-Dramas have undeniably elevated the prestige and fascination the world already previously had for South Korea . Whether you are flying over the Pacific or across the whole of Europe, planning a trip to South Korea can be Herculean, with or without the barrage of questions about the country’s language barriers, safety, and transportation. 

If you are stuck in a black hole of K-culture tabs and unverifiable information, fear not, as GoWithGuide has done the research for you. If you plan on doing some Seoul -searching, hoping to catch a train to Busan , or hungry to see some history right at the DMZ , our South Korea tour guides can help you devise the perfect South Korea itinerary for you. Before you start packing your bags, read up on all you need to know about South Korea. 

South Korea’s Top 10 Tourism Statistics 

Surrounded by the Yellow Sea to the west and the Sea of Japan to the east, South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, finds itself nestled in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. Together with its adjacent islands, the country is home to over 51.7 million residents with over 81% living in urban areas (think Seoul, Incheon, Busan, and Daegu). With 3,358 islands and 99,720 sq. km ready to be discovered, the country overflows with unforgettable experiences. 

1. 17,503,000 people - Over 17.5 million visitors arrived in South Korea in 2019, which is 14% higher than the previous year’s numbers. 2. 4.16% - Travel and tourism contributed 4.16% to the overall GDP of the country in 2019. 3. $21,500,000,000 - A record amount of 21.5 billion USD was documented in 2019 for tourist travel expenses in South Korea, averaging an expenditure of $1,230 per visitor.  4. 7.5 days - The average length of stay of visitors in 2017 was 7.5 days .  5. 47% - In 2021, 47% of tourists chose to visit South Korea to indulge in food tours.  6. 1.86 million tons - It’s not surprising that in 2019, 1,860,000 tons of kimchi was consumed in the country.  7. 13.38 million people - South Korea’s four major royal palaces were visited by a record high 13,380,000 people in 2019. Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul attracted the biggest crowds at 5.34 million visitors.  8. 501.5% - In December 2022, South Korea saw a jump at 501.5% increase in visitor arrivals, a great change compared to its previous month at 391%.  9. -25.5° - The coldest day of the 2023 winter season arrived on January 24, reaching lows of -25.5 ° in Cheorwon, a northern county in South Korea.  10. Number 1 - BTS holds the number 1 spot in Spotify’s Top Followed K-Pop Groups of 2023 with the hit song “Permission to Dance.” amongst others on constant replay.

Who Else Loves South Korea?

Throughout the years, East Asian and Southeast Asian countries have topped the  list of visitors to South Korea. The United States also sits highly on the list, with other European and South American countries being inaugurated into the list in the past couple of years.

1. China - China tops the list of highest inbound tourists by country in 2019 with 6 million visitors. 2. Japan - South Korea’s neighbor comes in second with 3.3 million visitors in 2019. 3. Taiwan - The land of industry and heritage brought over 1.3 million visitors in 2019. 4. United States - The Korean waves washed in 1 million US visitors in 2019. 5. Hong Kong - Last but never least, Hong Kong brought in 700,000 visitors in 2019.

South Korea's Fascinating Faves  

Okay, so we know who loves South Korea, but what do visitors do once they land? Here are the Top 5 most visited attractions in South Korea. 

•   Everland -  South Korea’s largest theme park & resort saw a whopping 5.7 million visitors from all over the world in 2022. 
•   KINTEX - The massive Korean International Exhibition Center drew 5.31 million visitors in 2022 thanks to it being a popular venue for meetings, conferences and of course, exhibitions.
• Lotte World - From indoor delights to outdoor thrills, Lotte World adventure has brought joy to the 4.52 million that spend their day in the massive theme park in 2022. 
•   National Museum Of Korea - The home of Korean history, culture and art welcomed 3.4 million visitors in 2022. 
• Gyeongbokgung Palace - Rounding out the top 5 is the grandest of South Korea’s 5 palaces dating back to the Joseon Dynasty. In 2022 this intricate palace welcomed 3.39 million visitors. 

Life in South Korea

Depending on where exactly you find yourself, South Korea can be a lot of different things. This is why for first timers, we suggest passing by one of these amazing regions.

Top Must See South Korean Regions

1. Seoul -  The country’s capital is a metropolis fusing modern skyscrapers and pop culture with centuries-old temples and savory-smelling street markets. For first timers in South Korea, Seoul should definitely be on your itinerary. The capital has a little bit of everything , so you are in for a taste of what it is like to live like a resident. For the foodies, Seoul will appease your appetite with the best kimchi, bibimbap, and tteokbokki in the world. Ask our local guides for more information on the best foods to try in South Korea. 

2. Jeju Island - With a volcano towering Jeju Island , it is no wonder the region attracts adventurous travelers ready for hikes, days on the beach, and being in tune with nature. The island is a wonderful place to visit all year round, but if you want to get the peak experience, the spring and summer months will find you wanting to stay for longer. 

3. Busan - The port city of Busan is a city with surprisingly a vast expanse of greenery with a sea backdrop. Take a pick from its healing forests, South Korea’s biggest Buddha, or Lotte World. 

4. The DMZ - Korea is divided into two governments, and being on the same block of island, needed a 250 km (160 mi) long and 4 km (2.5 mi) wide Demilitarized Zone . Visit the area to learn more about the Korean Peninsula’s history with a professional tour guide to assure your safety in the area.

Best Time to Visit South Korea

Private guided tours around the country are available year round, but if you want to get the most from your trip, there are certain seasons that prove unrivaled. 

• Spring Months - April to June By far the best time to visit the country is during the spring months, when the temperature is pleasing, the air is neither too dry nor too humid, and the atmosphere is awash with cherry blossoms. 
• Fall Months  - September to November  Our local guides also suggest visiting in the fall months if you are unable to book for the spring. The fall months are also better for those with hay fever, according to the Korean Calendar for Allergenic Pollens . 
• Summer Months - July and August Summer is the hottest and wettest time in the country, albeit only two months long. For those in search of some beach and ocean action, then this is the best time to dive in. 
• Winter Months - December to March  The freezing cold of South Korea can be pretty extreme, but this dry and beautiful season is the perfect time to go skiing, sightseeing, and shopping.

How to Get Around South Korea

By train - the whole country is connected by rail, making trains an easy and affordable option for sightseeing. Our South Korea tour guides can also take you on the high speed KOrail and let you know the best passes to use on your customized tour experience.  

By Bus - Intercity transport is also convenient if you choose buses as your main mode of transportation. 

By Ferry - To get to the islands, our local guides recommend hopping on a ferry. It is fun, does not hurt the budget, and is a once in a lifetime experience. 

Insider Tip : Make sure to buy a transportation card, TMoney or Cashbee, before embarking on a train or bus ride. This will save you time, money, and from avoidable stress!

Safety in South Korea

South Korea is an extremely safe country. The country finds itself sitting way up the 2022 safety index at 21, just behind Monaco and Austria and in front of Singapore and Finland. CNN has also ranked Seoul as one of the safest cities for 2019. Of course watching out for tourist traps and pickpockets is a must, just like in any country, but in general, the country is safe for travelers from anywhere in the world. 

Strolling with a  South Korea tour guide who speaks the language will give you the upper hand when finding the most coveted restaurants, the best deals, and the grandest views. Whilst on a private tour with a professional guide, issues related to miscommunication and language barriers are zero to none. That is one huge weight lifted off of your shoulders.

Searching for accurate, factual, and up-to-date information on South Korea does not have to be as difficult as learning a full out BTS or Blackpink dance routine. In fact, it should be as trouble-free and uncomplicated as enjoying the beautiful landscape of the Land of the Morning Calm. 

Ready to take your trip planning to the next level? Get in touch with a  South Korea tour guide and get your itinerary party started!

South Korea will only continue to enchant the world, so be the first to share this all-in-one guide to friends and family. 

Popular South Korea Tour Guides

Hello everyone, I am Paul, a tour guide in Seoul. Seoul is a fascinated destination that seamlessly blends the old with the new. I'm excited to show you some of the best things to make your trip fun and unforgettable memory, through my deep knowledge about culture and history of Korea and exuberant experiences in tour. My primary tourist destination is Seoul and metropolitan area, consisting of 5 palaces, Royal Ancestral Shrine, Bukchon Hanok Village, National museum of Korea, War Memorial of Korea and other museums & galleries and contemporary architectures, and Namsan Mt. with N-Seoul Tower, traditional & trendy market places such as Gwangjang market & Hondae street, and also Korean Folk Village & DMZ tour. Center of culture and tour is architecture. Architectural style represents spirit of times. We can see as much as we know about spirit of times. For example, without knowledge about Christianity, the spirit of medieval Europe, we cannot fully appreciate beauty and value of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Confucianism was the spirit of Joseon Dynasty. Architectural style of Gyeongbokgung represents Confucianism. Confucianism culture of Joseon Dynasty is unique characteristic of Korean culture, compared to Chinese, Japanese and European culture. Hence, my tourist information is based on Confucianism. Thank you for your interest! As your guide, I hope to see you soon in Seoul.                                                                                                                                  

I am Thomas, a licensed tour guide in Seoul, Korea since 2016. I am optimistic, easy-going and open-minded. Before being a tour guide, I had worked at a major company as a personnel manager for almost 30 years. I learned how to get along with people through my job experience. Now, as a tour guide, If you let me know what you are interested in, for example, places to visit, activities to do, and food to eat. I will do my best to make everything you imagine come true. I offer the best services; High Quality and Customized tours, Free transportation service and Free photo service. I also guarantee a comfortable, pleasant, safe and memorable tour. Enjoy the moment at your own pace and time in Korea, I will capture it as a photo. Thank you                                                                                                                                  

Hello Everyone, My name is Hans, I've been living in Seoul Korea over 40 years and working as an officially certified English speaking tour & trekking guide since 2015. I have various experiences in city tours including history, culture, religion, foods and so on, and I met lots of tourists with Private and Group from the world, and understand of what they want to see and do. As a result, I can bring tourist to those major tourist spots and believe you will be satisfied with my tour, and back to home with forgettable memories after the time with me. My tour coverages are Seoul City tour with DMZ, Unesco world heritages, National park trekking, country side cycling tour, and nationwide multiple days tour with my van.                                                                                                                                  

Hello! I am Alice. I live in Incheon, South Korea. It's very close to Seoul. I want to guide my clients through the charming city of Seoul. Especially when introducing the five grand palaces of Seoul, I would like to invite a professional photographer to capture beautiful moments. I can help them dress in hanbok and create stunning life shots. I also want to guide them through Kyeongju, a city that breathes with a long history. I lived in Kyeongju until my teenage years. I want to introduce UNESCO-listed Kyeongju, a city of culture and history. I have traveled to Jeju Island more than several ten times. I also want to introduce Jeju Island. My clients can go anywhere they want in South Korea. There are many well-preserved cultural heritage sites with a long history in Korea, and they can also experience the convenience of fast-developing Seoul. Come and visit Korea. Let's explore Seoul and travel together anywhere. Traveling in Korea will be a memorable and cherished experience. Best regards. Alice.                                                                                                                                  

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