Journalist

KI Su-jeong
  • Korea Tourism Organization Earns Top Rating in 2025 Public Agency Satisfaction Survey
    Korea Tourism Organization Earns Top Rating in 2025 Public Agency Satisfaction Survey Korea Tourism Organization President Park Seong-hyeok said Wednesday the agency received the highest rating, "very excellent," in the Finance and Economy Ministry’s 2025 public agency customer satisfaction survey. The annual survey, intended to improve service quality and public satisfaction, covered 186 public institutions this year. Results were released in five tiers: very excellent, excellent, average, poor and very poor. The organization was the only agency under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to earn the top grade. The result was attributed to efforts to expand programs nationwide, including the "Digital Tourism Resident ID" and "Travel Month," aimed at responding to regional population decline, as well as initiatives to attract domestic and international visitors and boost domestic demand. "The organization’s sincere efforts to deliver happiness to people’s lives through tourism led to the meaningful result of the highest customer satisfaction rating," Park said. "As the nation’s leading public institution in tourism, we will listen more closely to the public and, through innovation, grow into an organization that moves travelers from around the world." Separately, the organization is accepting entries through next month’s May 12 deadline for a public contest seeking proposals on tourism policy. It said it plans to gather creative ideas from the public to improve tourism-related services and expand customer-centered projects. Details are available on the Korea Everywhere tourism website. 2026-04-23 11:09:52
  • Korea Tourism Organization Hosts Barrier-Free Sharing Trip to Hwangmaesan Park
    Korea Tourism Organization Hosts Barrier-Free Sharing Trip to Hwangmaesan Park The Korea Tourism Organization held a special “sharing trip” at Hwangmaesan County Park in Hapcheon, South Gyeongsang Province, for people considered vulnerable in travel, marking “Open Travel Week.” The newly completed park, despite its mountainous terrain, added barrier-free walkways and deck paths so wheelchair users and older visitors can reach the azalea colony near the summit. The park also removed level differences at the summit parking-lot rest area and upgraded accessible restrooms. It set up an assistive-device rental station and expanded amenities, including “sharing carts” that can carry wheelchairs. Hwangmaesan, along with the nearby Tripitaka Koreana Theme Park and Hapcheon Image Theme Park, has emerged as a key barrier-free tourism hub in the province. At the event held on the 22nd, about 50 people — including people with disabilities and older residents living in Hapcheon, as well as members of the sharing trip group — were invited as special guests. They watched an open-mic performance for JTBC’s music program “Begin Again,” staged against a backdrop of fully bloomed red azaleas. Local governments supported operations and transportation. Hapcheon County provided the sharing carts, and Ulsan Metropolitan City provided a wheelchair lift-equipped vehicle. Footage from the event is scheduled to be released in May via JTBC and YouTube. Park Jeong-ung, head of the Korea Tourism Organization’s National Tourism Division, said he hopes Hwangmaesan’s azaleas and the music will be remembered as “an unforgettable spring gift.” He said the agency will seek related projects that people vulnerable in travel can feel directly, aiming to build a tourism powerhouse without barriers. The Open Tourism Site development program supports renovations to tourism infrastructure so people with disabilities, older adults and families traveling with infants and young children can travel without restrictions. It also provides comprehensive support for experience content, visitor guidance systems and worker training. Launched in 2015, the program has surpassed 200 open tourism sites nationwide this year. 2026-04-23 10:35:12
  • Lotte Hotel & Resort Joins Earth Day Lights-Out Campaign Across 24 Sites in South Korea
    Lotte Hotel & Resort Joins Earth Day Lights-Out Campaign Across 24 Sites in South Korea Lotte Hotel & Resort said Wednesday it completed a nationwide lights-out campaign Tuesday to mark Earth Day, with its chain properties taking part at the same time. Earth Day is a global environmental observance established in 1970 to highlight the seriousness of pollution. In South Korea, major public agencies and facilities hold annual events that switch off lights for 10 minutes. The company ran the campaign under the slogan “Magical 10 Minutes.” It said 24 domestic chain hotels, resorts and golf courses participated, including Signiel Seoul and Signiel Busan. From 8 p.m., each site turned off exterior landscape lighting for 10 minutes and reduced lighting levels in shared areas such as lobbies and restaurants to save energy. The company said guests also voluntarily switched off room lights, joining what it described as value-based consumption and environmental protection efforts. An online promotion will continue through Wednesday on the company’s official Instagram account, featuring a photo-verification event for participation in the lights-out campaign or a quiz entry. Winners will be selected by drawing to receive an Emissary.73 Enriching Travel Kit or goods featuring the company’s character, “LUA.” Winners will be notified individually on April 30. Lotte Hotel & Resort also cited recognition for its environmental, social and governance, or ESG, performance. It said that in November last year, it ranked No. 1 for a sixth straight year in the hotel category at the “2025 Korea Sustainability Conference” hosted by the Korean Standards Association. 2026-04-23 10:23:05
  • Elysian Gangchon to Hold Children’s Day Festival on May 4
    Elysian Gangchon to Hold Children’s Day Festival on May 4 Gangwon Province’s Elysian Gangchon resort in Chuncheon will host a Children’s Day holiday festival on May 4, offering family-oriented performances, hands-on activities and prize giveaways. Elysian Gangchon said April 23 it will stage a “Children’s Day Kids Festival” across the resort, featuring stage shows, interactive experience programs and a flea market. The main performance lineup will include a magic show, bubble show and balloon art. Shows are scheduled in two sessions: the first runs for one hour starting at 11 a.m., and the second begins at 2:30 p.m. An activity zone will operate continuously from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with face painting and craft programs such as making a personal fan, tumbler or eco-bag, along with forest-themed crafts. The resort will also run on-site, customer-participation prize events, offering two room vouchers, three glamping vouchers, 10 swimming pool admission tickets and 10 Arabista iced Americano coupons. “We carefully prepared hands-on content where parents and children can connect and laugh together in nature for Children’s Day,” a resort official said. “We hope a day at Elysian Gangchon will be remembered as a special gift for the whole family.” The festival is open to visitors without advance reservations, though some popular programs may close early depending on on-site conditions. 2026-04-23 10:13:50
  • Airbnb Extends CORTIS ‘Green vs. Red’ Pop-Up in Seoul for ‘REDRED’ Release
    Airbnb Extends CORTIS ‘Green vs. Red’ Pop-Up in Seoul for ‘REDRED’ Release Airbnb said Wednesday it will extend operations of its “Airbnb & CORTIS Green vs. Red Secret Space Pop-Up,” marking the release of “REDRED,” the title track from the group CORTIS’ second mini album. The pop-up will run May 1-7 in Seoul. Reservations open at noon Wednesday. ◆ Two contrasting rooms built around CORTIS’ identity Airbnb said the event was designed to bring the message of “REDRED” into a physical space so fans can experience the group’s musical world firsthand. The venue is split into two opposing concepts reflecting CORTIS’ creative process. The “Red” room features neon lighting and red walls for an intense, high-energy feel. The “Green” room uses green-toned walls, an arched photo wall and softer lighting for a more emotional mood. Objects and details inspired by the members’ actual studio were placed throughout, Airbnb said. Interactive programs include collecting customized card keys and keycaps, a mailroom with a preference-based bingo game, and a CORTIS crossword puzzle solved with UV light. CORTIS members will not appear at the site, and some programs, including a paint zone, will not operate. ◆ Limited giveaway of unreleased photos for up to 1,000 people Airbnb said it will offer a special benefit for pop-up visitors and Airbnb guests: a “Square Pic” souvenir set featuring six unreleased CORTIS photos. Eligible recipients are pop-up participants or guests who book an Airbnb stay in South Korea between April 23 and May 7. The “Square Pic” can be picked up only at the pop-up site. Detailed pickup instructions will be posted April 30 on Airbnb’s official social media channels, the company said. CORTIS said, “We put our honest selves into the title track ‘REDRED,’” adding that the partnership with Airbnb made it possible to create a space where fans can experience the group’s music in person. Seo Ga-yeon, Airbnb Korea’s country manager, said K-pop is “one of the biggest factors” in travel decisions, but “what keeps travelers staying is the appeal of the city itself.” She said the collaboration aims to introduce South Korea’s “lively and dynamic culture” to the world. Reservations are available through Airbnb’s official website starting at noon Wednesday, Korea time. Airbnb said the pop-up can accommodate more than 1,000 participants but may close early. 2026-04-23 09:17:41
  • Travel Firms Counter Rising Fuel Surcharges With Reimbursements and Discounts
    Travel Firms Counter Rising Fuel Surcharges With Reimbursements and Discounts Rising geopolitical risk in the Middle East has sent international oil prices swinging, pushing up airline fuel surcharges on tickets. With May fuel surcharges expected to climb as high as Level 33, travelers planning overseas trips face higher costs. Travel companies are responding with full reimbursements of surcharge increases and broad discount campaigns to keep demand from cooling. ◆ “We’ll pay back the increase”: Modetour launches April-only fuel reimbursement Modetour said it will fully cover May fuel-surcharge increases for customers who finalize reservations in April under a “fuel reimbursement” program. The move is aimed at easing additional costs that can rise after booking amid a strong-dollar, high-oil environment. The program applies to the first 1,000 customers who book eligible products for Japan, China and Southeast Asia. No separate application is required. The company will automatically pay the difference between the fuel surcharge at the time of reservation confirmation and at ticketing as tour mileage in the month after departure. The mileage is valid for five years. Modetour also expanded short-haul options, citing demand shifting to nearby destinations with lower overall costs. It created specialized categories for Southeast Asia; Japan; China/Hong Kong/Mongolia; and departures from Busan, Daegu and Cheongju. In April, reservation rates for China and Japan rose 16% and 2%, respectively, from a year earlier, the company said. ◆ NOL Universe ramps up “across-the-board price support” with daily coupons NOL Universe is also rolling out promotions to prevent customer drop-off as fuel surcharges rise, offering discounts across airfare and overseas lodging. Through Thursday the company will issue first-come, first-served 5% discount coupons each day at 10 a.m. for flights to Japan, China, Vietnam and Thailand. It is also offering an additional 10,000 won instant discount on all Japan and China routes, plus a 7% discount on overseas lodging reservations. The company will also run limited-time deals through its live commerce channel, “NOL Live.” At 11 a.m. on Monday, it plans a one-hour Asiana Airlines special, offering viewers additional discount coupons of up to 30,000 won. NOL Interpark Tour will issue first-come, first-served 10,000 won coupons for all international routes twice daily, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Additional discounts of up to 10% will be available by route for payments made with major credit card companies, it said. ◆ High oil, strong dollar squeeze: Industry bets on direct savings With signs that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could persist, travel companies face a tougher outlook. Fuel-surcharge increases combined with a strong exchange rate have sharply raised travelers’ perceived costs. In response, agencies are concentrating promotions on short-haul routes, where airfare burdens are typically lower than long-haul travel, and emphasizing simple, direct financial benefits to attract customers. Jeong Hui-yong, a department head in Modetour’s marketing business division, said the reimbursement program was designed as a “practical, benefits-focused promotion” to help customers choose products more confidently despite higher fuel surcharges. Park Jeong-hyeon, head of NOL Universe’s aviation business division, said the company would “reduce customers’ travel burden and support reasonable choices” through its broad price-support measures. 2026-04-22 09:43:20
  • Korea to Launch Welcome Week at Airports and Ports, Spotlighting K-Food to Draw 30 Million Visitors
    Korea to Launch Welcome Week at Airports and Ports, Spotlighting K-Food to Draw 30 Million Visitors From April 24 to May 9, major gateways across South Korea — including Incheon and Jeju international airports and the ports of Busan and Seogwipo — will be turned into welcome hubs for inbound travelers. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Visit Year Committee said they will run the 2026 first-half Welcome Week, themed around K-food, during the peak spring travel season. The plan combines public-private discounts with promotions tied to local small businesses to boost visitor spending. ◆ Welcome hubs at airports and cruise ports The ministry and the committee will hold the event from April 24 to May 9 to coincide with East Asia’s busy travel period, including Japan’s Golden Week and China’s Labor Day holiday. Organizers said the program is aimed at building a positive first impression from the moment visitors arrive, as part of a national goal of attracting 30 million foreign tourists. Welcome booths will be set up at Incheon International Airport, Jeju International Airport, the Busan Port Cruise Terminal and the Seogwipo Gangjeong Cruise Port. Incheon’s booth will run April 24 to May 9, while Jeju’s will operate April 25 to May 9. Cruise-port events will be staged in line with ship arrival schedules. ◆ K-food theme, linked to the SME ministry’s “Companion Festival” This year’s central theme is K-food. Visitors to the booths will be offered multilingual guides to regional dining, along with hands-on programs such as traditional tea tastings and roulette-style events. Organizers said the effort goes beyond information, with discounts tied to private-sector partners across food and beverage, shopping and exhibitions. Tourists will receive a “welcome card” with a QR code, a Korea travel map and a welcome kit featuring K-food and beauty items. The program will also be linked to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ “Republic of Korea Companion Festival,” aiming to promote products from small merchants and encourage purchases that support local economies. ◆ Additional booth at Busan Station tied to BTS “ARIRANG” concerts Organizers also plan to align the campaign with major K-pop events. A separate welcome booth will be added at Busan Station to match the Busan dates of BTS’ world tour “ARIRANG,” scheduled for June 1-15, targeting fans traveling to Korea for the shows. Cooperation with local governments will be expanded as well. Working with the city of Yeosu in South Jeolla Province, organizers plan a hospitality campaign involving workers in food and beverage, lodging and transportation, as well as residents, to encourage repeat visits. A committee official said the Welcome Week is intended to give foreign tourists “a special experience that leaves a positive first impression of traveling in Korea,” adding that close coordination with private partners and local governments will be used to build a cycle in which visitor satisfaction leads to return trips. 2026-04-22 09:22:24
  • South Korea Selects 100 Tourism Startups Using AI and K-Culture in 17th Venture Contest
    South Korea Selects 100 Tourism Startups Using AI and K-Culture in 17th Venture Contest The Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry and the Korea Tourism Organization have selected 100 tourism startups they say could reshape South Korea’s tourism industry, highlighting business models built around artificial intelligence and K-culture. The ministry and the organization said April 22 they had announced the final results of the 17th Tourism Venture Business Contest. The contest drew about 1,500 applications, up 35.2% from a year earlier, for a competition rate of 15 to 1. The organization selected 20 pre-startup teams, 40 early-stage ventures and 40 growth-stage ventures, for a total of 100. ◆ AI, deep tech drive customized travel services AI-based tourism services stood out among this year’s picks. Selected companies included Hanora Kids Trip, which optimizes itineraries for travelers with children; Ripplemate, a multilingual customer management platform for tourism operators; Zerobata, a hotel AI concierge service operating in 30 languages; and KEEPER, an automation platform for managing lodging spaces. Officials said the companies are expected to help accelerate digital transformation across the tourism sector. ◆ K-culture products target inbound visitors Reflecting the global K-culture boom, several selected offerings focus on foreign visitors to South Korea. They included Celetrip, which offers fan-tailored tours using K-pop artist voice guides; Fanwork, which links K-culture fans’ interest in visiting South Korea to experiential products; Handybus, a mobility platform tailored to K-pop concerts; and Gotaek Live Dining, an arts-focused tourism program combining hanok stays with live performances and food for foreign visitors. ◆ Local and wellness trends also featured The lineup also included experience-based services built around local culture and lifestyle travel. Examples included Temple Run, which combines temple culture with running; Chungcheongdo Saecham Hansang, which blends the region’s bobusang merchant culture with local food; Meongkok, an immersive pet tourism platform based on user-generated content data; and Dear Cabin, a high-end nature stay using luxury cabins. The 100 selected companies will receive up to 100 million won each in commercialization funding on a differentiated basis. They will also be offered stage-specific support programs, including company assessments, mentoring, consulting, help with attracting investment, and assistance in developing domestic and overseas sales channels. The ministry said it also plans to pursue supplementary budget support to strengthen competitiveness across the tourism industry. Min Jeong-hui, head of the tourism business startup team at the Korea Tourism Organization, said innovative ideas that combine AI technology with the appeal of Korean culture stood out this year. “Having discovered more than 1,800 companies and created more than 5,300 jobs so far, we will help promising companies grow steadily in the market,” Min said. 2026-04-22 09:03:00
  • Seoul Tourism Foundation Partners With LAFC to Boost Global Marketing
    Seoul Tourism Foundation Partners With LAFC to Boost Global Marketing Seoul Tourism Foundation has partnered with Los Angeles FC, a leading club in Major League Soccer, as it steps up global marketing tied to sports content. The foundation said the effort is aimed at accelerating its push toward an era of 30 million inbound visitors to Seoul. The Seoul Tourism Foundation, led by CEO Gil Ki-yeon, said it signed an official partnership with LAFC on April 20 local time and has begun a full-scale campaign to strengthen the Seoul tourism brand. The collaboration was designed to use sports events with global fan bases to raise Seoul’s profile worldwide. ◆ “U.S. soccer fans hooked on jegichagi” ... ‘Seoul buzz’ at BMO Stadium Ahead of the signing, about 2,000 local fans attended LAFC’s Fan Fest on April 19 at BMO Stadium, the club’s home venue, the foundation said. It ran hands-on challenge events meant to showcase Seoul’s energy. Activities included a “Seoul Heading Challenge” featuring step-by-step height targets modeled on Seoul landmarks such as Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, and a “Seoul Jegichagi Challenge” that blended soccer juggling skills with the traditional Korean kicking game. The jegichagi zone drew long lines as fans repeatedly tried again after finding it harder than expected. The foundation also offered hanbok try-ons and operated a photo zone featuring Haechi, a signature Seoul character, to highlight a range of Korean cultural attractions. ◆ Apple TV broadcasts, Son Heung-min promo video ... Seoul to reach 100-plus countries The foundation said the partnership will expand marketing across digital and in-person channels. With LAFC matches carried via Apple TV to more than 100 countries, the “VISIT SEOUL” brand is being displayed to global soccer audiences through stadium outdoor boards and broadcast shots. In June, short Seoul tourism promotional videos featuring Son Heung-min and key LAFC players are set to be released on official social media channels. Starting on the 27th, the foundation will also give away limited-edition “Seoul X LAFC” posters at 20 locations, including tourist information centers and goods shops across Seoul, to strengthen online-offline synergy. “Hard-core sports fans are attractive potential tourists who are willing to invest time and money for the teams and players they support,” Gil said. “Building on this partnership, we will strengthen marketing cooperation so sports fans around the world recognize Seoul as a global tourism city they must visit.” 2026-04-22 08:06:19
  • Paradise Credit Rating Raised to A+ on Strong Results and Hotel Expansion Plans
    Paradise Credit Rating Raised to A+ on Strong Results and Hotel Expansion Plans Paradise has been building stronger credibility in capital markets on steady earnings and early investment, industry officials said. According to the industry on the 22nd, Korea Investors Service upgraded Paradise’s corporate bond rating at its eighth review to A+ (stable) from A (positive). NICE Investors Service also reaffirmed the A+ (stable) rating it assigned in October last year, again citing the company’s solid financial health. ◆ Casino demand, hotel deals seen supporting stronger results The upgrade was attributed to improved performance from rising casino customer demand, expectations for revenue growth through hotel acquisitions and new hotel construction, and expanded investment supported by financial stability. Paradise posted 1.1499 trillion won in revenue last year, up 7.3% from a year earlier. The company’s growth was driven by higher drop amounts from Japanese VIP and mass-market customers, the evaluators said. They also pointed to the acquisition of the Grand Hyatt Incheon West Tower, a 501-room property, as a key investment expected to help sustain revenue growth. ◆ Debt ratio at 84.4% despite investment push Despite large-scale investment, Paradise has maintained strong financial indicators. Borrowing is expected to rise due to new projects, including development of a flagship hotel in Jangchung-dong, Seoul, but annual operating cash flow of about 200 billion won is supporting the funding needs. As of 2025, net debt fell 61 billion won from the end of the previous year to 377.3 billion won. The debt ratio stood at 84.4%, and the borrowing dependency ratio was 29.5%, levels the agencies described as reflecting a very stable financial structure. NICE Investors Service cited continued performance centered on the integrated resort Paradise City and stronger customer-attraction capacity from new hotel acquisitions. It said capital expenditures and working-capital burdens were manageable relative to cash generation. A Paradise official said the market had given the company a high assessment of its business performance and future value. The official said Paradise would use the higher credit standing to strengthen its financing competitiveness and contribute to the development of South Korea’s tourism industry. 2026-04-22 07:52:20