The beloved twin pandas at Everland, Louis and Hui, are set to travel across South Korea to promote the country's beautiful tourist destinations. The pandas, who must move to China before turning four, are expected to create lasting memories with fans while invigorating the local economy.
On July 9, the Korea Tourism Organization and Samsung C&T's Everland signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the Wonju Tourism Corporation headquarters in Gangwon Province for the joint campaign 'Louis and Hui's Journey Across Korea.' This initiative aims to enhance awareness of domestic tourist sites by leveraging the popularity of the twin pandas.
◆ Storytelling of Twin Pandas Meets Local Tourism
This campaign is a narrative-driven project where Louis and Hui will travel around the country, creating diverse memories before their departure to China. It features an interactive program that allows the public to join the pandas on their journey, rather than merely introducing various regions.
The two organizations will spotlight one of six regions each month: Jeolla (July), Chungcheong (August), Jeju (September), Gyeongsang (October), Gangwon (November), and the Seoul metropolitan area (December). Each region's attractions, festivals, and specialties will be integrated into the pandas' travel stories, promoting them both online and offline.
Notably, veteran zookeepers from Everland, including Kang Cheol-won, who has gained fame as 'Panda Grandpa' on the official Everland YouTube channel 'Bbuppa TV,' along with Song Young-kwan and Oh Seung-hee, will serve as regional ambassadors. They will travel with the Louis and Hui dolls, sharing the hidden charms of each area. The first destination will be Jeolla, Kang's hometown, featuring content themed around the refreshing landscapes of Gochang, known for its watermelons, under the concept of 'Countryside Vacation,' which has already generated excitement among fans.
◆ Linking Digital Tourist Resident Cards to Encourage Visitors
The Korea Tourism Organization plans to connect key initiatives aimed at increasing local populations through this campaign. Tourists following the pandas' journey will be offered discounts on accommodations and attractions in areas experiencing population decline through the 'Digital Tourist Resident Card' and 'Half-Price Travel' programs, providing practical incentives for visiting these regions.
Various on-site interactive events and limited-edition products will also be available. A stamp rally connecting major tourist spots in the six regions will be held, with participants who visit two or more regions receiving prizes through a lottery. Everland will sequentially release limited-edition panda merchandise that reflects the characteristics of each region. Following the sell-out success of the 'Louis and Hui Companion Dolls' during an online shopping live event, unique products featuring local themes will continue to be unveiled.
The content produced will be regularly posted on the Korea Tourism Organization's domestic travel information platform 'Discover Korea,' as well as on social media channels and the official Everland YouTube channel 'Bbuppa TV.'
Kim Young-mi, head of the Korea Tourism Organization's Tourism AI Innovation Division, stated, 'This is a great opportunity to widely promote the hidden charms of local tourism through the beloved twin pandas. We will implement diverse promotional strategies to encourage more people to travel across Korea.'
Lee Chae-sung, vice president of Everland's Resort Division, also promised, 'Through this campaign, we aim to contribute to the revitalization of local tourism while providing diverse programs that will help fans cherish the precious time spent with the twin pandas in our country.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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