On July 27, the Visit Korea Committee headed to the Jinhae Jungang Market in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do Province and conducted a kindness training session and a welcome campaign in celebration of the 2018 Visit Changwon Year and Changwon 2018 World Shooting Championships.

First, we visited the vendors at traditional markets and taught them how to be more welcoming towards foreigners.

Our kindness instructors distributed customer service manuals and conversational cards containing basic greetings in foreign languages to about 160 vendors at the market.

We were pleased to see so many vendors participating enthusiastically in the training session.

Next, as part of the welcome campaign, we invited people to paint the wall of kindness.

Local visitors, stall keepers, and foreign tourists gathered to complete the painting together. The painting was handed over to the Association of Jinhae Jungang Market Vendors, and will be exhibited at a later date. Last but not least, there was the pledge of kindness. Everyone joined in the pledge of kindness by hanging polaroid photos with the wall painting in the background on the tree of kindness.

We would like to thank all those who participated in the campaign despite the hot weather, and promise to play our part in promoting local tourism with the same energy that you showed us at the Changwon Jungang Market. See you again soon!

For two days from July 6 to 7, the 2018 Kaohsiung Individual Tour Forum was held at Taroko Park, Taiwan. The Visit Korea Committee was excited to attend the event On the first day, there was a B2B forum for local travel agencies and related businesses. The Visit Korea Committee introduced its key activities for foreign tourists, including the Korea Grand Sale, Korea Sale FESTA, and KOREA TOUR CARD. The event attracted the attention of many people, and turned out to be a success. On the second day, the Visit Korea Committee opened a booth to promote Korea to potential tourists. The visitors to the Visit Korea Committee’s booth learned more about Korea through various events and promotional materials. The event drew a large crowd of more than 10,000. Not at all discouraged by the sudden shower, the crowd remained passionate throughout the event. The Visit Korea Committee could introduce its activities successfully thanks to the crowd’s support. We look forward to meeting you in Korea, with the same passion that you showed us at the event! Hope to see you again soon!

Many of us are hesitant to travel in the scorching heat. Here are some indoor attractions recommended by the Visit Korea Committee. They range from performances and exhibitions to indoor activities. Shall we take a look at the indoor attractions to get away to this summer?

The Visit Korea Committee and the National Museum of Korea signed an agreement to work together in attracting foreign tourists. Let’s take a look at the signing ceremony, held at the National Museum of Korea on June 26.

Park Sam-Koo, chairman of the Visit Korea Committee, and Bae Kidong, director general of the National Museum of Korea attended the ceremony.

Ahead of the signing, representatives from the two organizations engaged in a pleasant conversation.

Now, it is time for the official signing. After watching a promotional clip, the two organizations were briefed on the details of the agreement.

The agreement was signed by Park Sam-Koo, chairman of the Visit Korea Committee, and Bae Kidong, director general of the National Museum of Korea.

The signing was followed by a group photo session.

The Visit Korea Committee and the National Museum of Korea will be organizing various activities to attract more foreign tourists to Korea.

The appointment ceremony of the Workers’ National Smile Team for the first half of 2018 was held on June 22. The event, during which representatives of Korea’s hospitality culture are selected, was one not to be missed

At the entrance, the attendees were given traditional fans with messages written in calligraphy, which added to the lively atmosphere.

Now, it is time to appoint the members of the National Smile Team! Many exemplary workers in various fields honored the event with their presence.

The ceremony kicked off with opening remarks and a congratulatory speech by Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah of the Visit Korea Committee.

A total of 57 workers in various fields, including entry/exit and customs, transportation, accommodation, shopping, tourism, and tourist police, were named as members of the National Smile Team.

The representatives from each field had the opportunity to share their thoughts.

The ceremony ended with a group photo session. Do continue to show your support for the upcoming kindness campaign taking place nationwide by the 15th National Smile Team.

Summer is officially here! How about cooling off the summer heat at Korea’s beaches? With the Korea Tour Card, you can affordably enjoy a unique experience in Korea!

For two days from June 12 to 13, the Prism Hall in Tokyo Dome City came alive with the launch of the 2018 Korea Tourism Festival.

Despite the rain, the event attracted a huge crowd to Tokyo Dome City.

The event began with consulting sessions for local travel agencies. We were delighted to know that those in the Japanese tourism industry were already familiar with the Korea Grand Sale and KOREA TOUR CARD.

The opening ceremony was attended by VIPs representing Korea and Japan. The festival kicked off with a congratulatory address and a tape-cutting ceremony!

Lee Su-hoon, Korea’s ambassador to Japan, and Han Kyung-ah, secretary-general of the Visit Korea Committee, also dropped by the booth.

The Visit Korea Committee’s booth enjoyed an especially high turnout. Experts say that more Japanese have developed an interest in traveling to Korea after the PyeongChang Olympics.

Thanks to the large turnout, the two-day event was an excellent opportunity for the Visit Korea Committee to promote Korea and its activities!

We hope that the next time we meet again will be in Korea.  See you soon.

On June 7, the Visit Korea Committee visited Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan and signed an agreement to coordinate more extensive efforts in Korea-Japan tourism and in spreading a culture of kindness.

Let’s take a behind-the-scenes look at the signing ceremony.

In a pre-signing meeting, the Visit Korea Committee shared its achievements of the welcoming campaign for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, and Miyazaki Prefecture gave an update on preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.

The signing ceremony was attended by more than 50 relevant authorities, including Park Sam-Koo, the chairman of the Visit Korea Committee, and Shunji Kōno, the governor of Miyazaki Prefecture.

The event also drew much attention from various media outlets from both Korea and Japan.

The two organizations exchanged souvenirs before the signing.

The agreement on mutual exchange of tourism and hospitality was signed in a heartwarming atmosphere.

The signing ceremony concluded with a group photo of all attendees.

Just a moment!!

In addition to the agreement, the Visit Korea Committee has been busy promoting its programs, including the Korea Grand Sale, KOREA TOUR CARD, and Hands Free Service, to the Miyazaki City Tourism Association and Japanese travel agencies.

Here is a glimpse of what went on.

Those representing Japan showed great interest particularly in the KOREA TOUR CARD, which is an exclusive transportation and tourism card for foreigners.

In the future, we expect to see more active exchange in tourism-related programs not only between the Visit Korea Committee and Miyazaki Prefecture, but on a larger scale between Korea and Japan.

Would you like a unique experience of Korea? Visit some of the theme parks recommended by the Visit Korea Committee for this spring. Use the KOREA TOUR CARD on subways and buses,

and enjoy online discount coupons provided by the Visit Korea Committee. Don’t forget to use the benefits that come with the Korea Tour Card!

From April 22 to May 5, the Visit Korea Committee, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and the Seoul Tourism Association held the Foreigner Welcome Week 2018. The Welcome Week ended successfully thanks to the Welcome Centers in Seoul.

Many foreign visitors dropped by the five Welcome Centers at Cheonggye Plaza, Myeong-dong, Namsan, Hongdae, and COEX. Shall we take a look?

At the five Welcome Centers set up in major tourist attractions, foreign tourists were provided with travel information, and the opportunity to participate in fun-filled activities, such as Instagram photo-taking, best-photo shoot event, and photo zone service.

In addition to the various programs, visitors received souvenirs of Korea to bring home, including beautiful postcards, stickers, and promotional leaflets in their languages!

Those visiting the Welcome Centers created unforgettable memories by making unique bag tags and taking printed photos with their friends.

Aren’t you already looking forward to the next Welcome Week?

The Visit Korea Committee thanks all those who visited the Welcome Centers, and promises to warmly welcome foreigners until the next Welcome Week. See you again at the next Welcome Week!

A Korea tourism campaign inviting free independent travelers (FITs) from Hong Kong and Macau is taking place from April 23 to June 30. As part of promotional efforts, a conference was held for Hong Kong media on April 20. At the conference, the Visit Korea Committee introduced how to use and where to buy the Korea Tour Card. Many Hong Kong travel agencies and press were interested in the Korea Tour Card, a must-have for tourists visiting Korea. We look forward to seeing more tourists from Hong Kong visiting Korea with the Korea Tour Card.

Shall we review the outcomes of the Korea Grand Sale 2018? This year, the annual sale was launched on January 18 and ended on February 28.

The review meeting of the Korea Grand Sale 2018 was held on March 15 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul.

Before the meeting, the attendees enjoyed a networking session over a wide range of snacks and drinks.

The meeting kicked off with a welcoming address by Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah of the Visit Korea Committee.

This was followed by a video report and presentation. The event attracted a total of 778 participating companies and 51,497 stores, which translates to a year-on-year increase of 48% and 25%, respectively.

A Q&A session was held to help the organizers prepare for a more successful Korea Grand Sale based on feedback from the attendees.

Let’s look forward to the Korea Grand Sale 2019.

Top businesses received the Award of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Korea Grand Sale 2018. This year’s winners were Asiana Airlines and Lotte Department Store.

The winners of the Award of the Chairman of the Visit Korea Committee were Doota Duty Free, Woongjin Playdoci, Creative Tong, and WiFi Dosirak.

The lucky draw event was another chance for the attendees to bring home attractive prizes. The winners, selected randomly from among the participating companies, were very pleased with their prizes.

The Korea Grand Sale will return next with more goodies for everyone.

See you again at the Korea Grand Sale 2019!

2018年平昌冬奥会圆满落幕后， 2018年平昌冬残奥会拉开帷幕~

据悉，为迎接冬残奥会大学生微笑国家代表17期朋友们 访问了KTX江陵站一带，并成功开展了欢待活动~

在2018年平昌冬残奥会开幕后，很多国内外游客访问了江陵站~ 我们一起来看看 我们大微笑们在这里都做了些那些欢待活动~哈哈

这里是拍照墙，冬残奥会的吉祥物Bandabi正向各位运动员 传递助威信息~ 访客也一心一意填满了拍照墙， 并一起拍照留念~

在江陵站前广场， 还开展了用声音传递祝福和助威的活动！ 虽然语言不同，但心却是一样的~

留下祝福语的参与人言 还获得了可爱的平昌奥运会纪念品！

通过本次活动录下的视频， 将会编辑成小视频，将分享到网络，用于扩散还贷活动~

欢迎各位来到江陵~ 访客们与微笑国家代表一一击掌~ 一同祝愿2018年平昌冬残奥会顺利举办~ 多让人愉快的欢待活动啊~哈哈！

虽然天气有点凉，但是微笑国家代表们用微笑送去温暖， 并欢待访客~大家都辛苦了！

2018年冬残奥会结束后， 我们的亲切和欢待活动也将继续传播到全国各地~ 请大家敬请期待我们的活动吧~

In celebration of its opening, the 17th University Students’ National Smile Team visited Gangneung Station and held a welcome campaign.

Gangneung Station was bustling with many locals and foreigners visiting the city for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. Let’s check out the welcome campaign launched by the National Smile Team!

Visitors wrote messages on this photo wall featuring the Paralympics mascot Bandabi to cheer for their favorite athletes! The photo wall did not take long to fill up, and was a popular photo spot.

The National Smile Team invited visitors in front of Gangneung Station to cheer for athletes with their own voices. No matter what language they speak, everyone felt united in the spirit of the Olympics!

Those who participated in the event received official souvenirs of the PyeongChang Olympics. The campaign will be made into a video and posted online to reach out to more people.

Welcome to Gangneung! The visitors gave high-fives to the National Smile Team in support of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. The welcome campaign left people feeling motivated and energized.

Despite the cold weather, our hearts were totally warmed by the campaign. Cheers to the National Smile Team for their hospitality and friendliness. Our efforts to welcome foreigners will continue even after the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. Please keep your attention on our activities.

On March 9, the Visit Korea Committee held the completion ceremony of the 17th University Students’ National Smile Team at the Grand Hall of Tmark Grand Hotel Myeongdong in Jung-gu, Seoul.

The members of the 17th team held a welcome campaign in many places nationwide for locals and foreigners in celebration of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

At the awards ceremony, the most outstanding team and individuals were presented awards in recognition of their efforts.

The Visit Korea Committee set the table with souvenirs to thank the members of the 17th team.

As more people gather, the hall soon filled with laughter and excited chatter.

Here are some familiar faces from the 17th team.

The members posed for a photo at the photo zone.

Next, the members gave a report on their activities.

They participated in various online and offline activities to raise awareness of Korean culture among foreigners.

Everyone felt touched by how passionate and dedicated they were even in the cold winter. ♥

The completion ceremony kicked off with an opening declaration and an introduction of guests.

The key activities of the National Smile Team were compiled in a slide show.

Each photo brought back wonderful memories of the past.

Their unforgettable experience will be treasured for many years to come.

Finally, the members of the National Smile Team received certificates of completion for their activities.

They were proud of their certificates and medals.

Congratulations. : )

Let’s not forget the lucky draw event.

The lucky winners were randomly picked by Visit Korea Committee staff.

The ceremony ended in a happy, festive atmosphere.

Once again, thank you to all members of the National Smile Team for doing their part in spreading Korea’s hospitality culture! Do continue to reach out to others with your beautiful smiles.

The Visit Korea Committee wishes all the best to the National Smile Team. :D

On February 26, the Visit Korea Committee and VANK held an awards ceremony in recognition of the outstanding achievements of the 17th Global Promotional Delegation for Korean Culture and Tourism.

It was not easy for the delegates to approach foreign tourists in different places and raise their awareness of Korean culture.

The 17th Delegation was busier than ever with more foreign tourists visiting Korea for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Delegates with outstanding performance received medals, certificates of merit, and dolls of Bandabi, the official mascot of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.

Each awardee posed for a commemorative photo with Lee Eunjung, the director of the Visit Korea Committee’s Service Improvement Team, and Park Gi-tae, the director of VANK.

The awardees gave presentations to share their experiences and inspire other delegates.

The event was a meaningful time with the delegates bonding together and renewing their commitment.

We look forward to the delegates playing a key role in promoting Korean culture and tourism for the rest of their term.

The Visit Korea Committee will actively support the activities of the 17th Global Promotional Delegation to make foreign tourists feel welcome in Korea. : )

On February 22, the Visit Korea Committee held its 11^th board meeting at Lotte Hotel Seoul.

Chaired by Chairman Park Sam-koo of the committee, the meeting proceeded with a report on final accounts 2017, an announcement of projects for 2018, and the appointment of new board members to play a key role in the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year.

 <The 11^th board meeting of the Visit Korea Committee>

<Declaration of the opening of the board meeting and opening remarks by Chairman Park>

<Report on final accounts 2017, and announcement of projects for 2018>

<Report on final accounts 2017, and approval of projects and annual budget for 2018>

<Free discussion: Measures to promote tourism>

<Luncheon>

 Through close cooperation with the board of directors, the Visit Korea Committee expects to provide more benefits and better services to foreign tourists in Korea.

On February 7, National Smile Team members of the Visit Korea Committee headed to Gangwon Province. They launched the K-Smile campaign to welcome foreigners visiting Korea for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Upon arriving at Gangneung Station in the early morning, the mduring the Olympics period.embers embarked on the campaign.

They gave a warm welcome to visitors alighting at Gangneung Station, shouting “Welcome to Korea, Welcome to Gangneung, Pyeongchang!”

They passed on high fives to liven up the atmosphere. As you see, many foreigners were delighted.

The Visit Korea Committee operated the Tourist Service Center (TSC) in front of Gangneung Station. Many foreigners dropped by and enjoyed the various events and comforts offered at the Center.

The most popular attraction was the mini curling experience, which allows visitors to get a taste of the winter Olympic sport.

With the warm welcome and the opportunity to try winter sports, the foreigners felt fully immersed in the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games.

The K-Smile campaign, launched in celebration of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, will be spread out over three sessions to welcome foreign tourists visiting Korea during the Olympics period.

The Visit Korea Committee will continue its efforts for foreigners to make the most out of their stay in Korea and thoroughly enjoy the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games.

Do watch out for more!

On January 27, when Seoul froze over at a temperature of minus 20 degrees, Gocheok Sky Dome was burning with the energy of K-pop.

K-pop fans from around the world gathered to watch the 27th Seoul Music Awards, held in commemoration of the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year.

 The Visit Korea Committee attended the event to join in the celebration of the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year.

50 winners of the Korea Grand Sale pre-sale event were given two tickets each to the Seoul Music Awards. The tickets were handed out to the winners in person.

We were delighted to see them so happy and excited. The main event was preceded by a red carpet event.

At the red carpet event, we noticed the emblem of the Visit Korea Committee in the background. The K-pop stars seem to add more shine to the emblem.

 The lineup of stars walking the red carpet ranged from Super Junior, one of the pioneering idol groups behind the Korean wave, to the increasingly popular Chungha and Pristin.

 Before the event, there was a brief video clip on the Visit Korea Committee’s campaign.

The audience paid attention to the various benefits targeting foreigners, including the Korea Tour Card and Korea Grand Sale.

The main event began with wild cheers from the crowd.

 We also saw some familiar faces on stage during the presentation of the Hallyu Special Award. They were Secretary-General Han Kyung-Ah and actor Lee Yi-kyung.

The winners were EXO and SHINee’s Taemin. Super Junior’s Leeteuk received the awards on their behalf. Congratulations!

 At the reception, we met the big winners of the day. BTS was the winning team of the Grand Prize.

 BTS is playing a key role in spreading K-pop around the world. Congratulations to the team for their well-deserved Grand Prize!

We look forward to K-pop stars spreading not only the Korean wave, but also raising global awareness of Korea. Of course, the Visit Korea Committee will do its part as well. :)

The ambassadors arrived safely in Seoul after exploring Gangwon Province. The first stop in Seoul was the Seoul Music Awards.

Gocheok Sky Dome was fueled with the passion of K-pop fans who attended the Seoul Music Awards despite the freezing cold. The 27th Seoul Music Awards, organized in commemoration of the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year, was hailed by fans as a must-see event even before tickets went on sale.

Let’s all shout together! The Seoul Music Awards kicked off with the Sky Dome filled with wild cheers from the crowd. Before the awards ceremony, there was a brief video clip introducing the Visit Korea Committee

Actor Lee Yi-kyung and Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-Ah went on the stage to present the Hallyu Special Award.

The winners were EXO and SHINee’s Taemin, who were unfortunately unable to attend. Congratulations!

After a fun-packed night at the Seoul Music Awards, the last day of the FAM Tour dawned on us. The ambassadors got on the subway using the Korea Tour Card and headed to Lotte World Mall, a new landmark of Korea.

The highlights were Seoul Sky and the Lotte World Aquarium. The weather was almost as cold as Siberia, but thanks to the cloudless sky, the ambassadors were able to enjoy a panoramic view of Seoul.

In the afternoon, the ambassadors visited the main event center of the Korea Grand Sale 2018 in Dongdaemun. Here, you can get tourism information, WiFi, and other related services. They were reportedly blown away by the range of events and benefits offered to foreigners.

By now, everyone knows about the nationwide shopping festival taking place from January 18 to February 28. If you’re visiting Korea during this period, do check out the sale and take advantage of the benefits.

Next, the ambassadors dropped by the experience center for Running Man, a popular Korean variety show. They were given fun and exciting missions to complete. Visit the center with your friends, family, and loved ones to enjoy fun-packed indoor activities on a cold winter day.

The last item on the itinerary was the Hangang River Cruise. Many people enjoy eating chimaek (chicken and beer) by the river, but a fancy dinner on the cruise while taking in the night view will also be an unforgettable experience.

The FAM Tour came to an end with a lovely dinner. The ambassadors learned a great deal about Korea during their stay.

They were already fond of Korea before the trip, but now, they had a deeper level of affection. We hope they will continue to play their role as Korea tourism ambassadors back in their home country. Together with the ambassadors, the Visit Korea Committee will do its part for Korea to be remembered by tourists as a place to return to.

Do you remember the online event recruiting ambassadors for Korea tourism held by the Visit Korea Committee to mark the G-100 ofthe PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games? After beating off stiff competition at 500 to 1, the four ambassadors finally made it to Korea.

For five days from January 23 (Tue) to January 27 (Sat), the four ambassadors actively promoted Korea tourism in Seoul and Gangwon Province. Their five-day trip revealed the charm of Korea, which offers a ton of things to see and enjoy.

Welcome to Korea! This was the first meeting with the four ambassadors, who came all the way from Thailand, Taiwan, the United States, and Japan, respectively. They were filled with anticipation for the trip.

On the first day, they enjoyed dinner at the L7 Hotel, located in the heart of Gangnam, and attended a brief orientation.

The recently-opened hotel is equipped with an advanced check-in/out kiosk—perfect for showing off Korea’s modern edge.

The FAM Tour officially kicked off the next morning. Everyone got on the K-Travel Bus and headed to Gangwon Province.

The ambassadors, selected in celebration of the G-100, dropped by the Olympic Promotion Hall. The sneak preview of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games left us with higher expectations for February.

Jungang Market is a must if you’re in Gangneung. There is no better place to experience the local culture than markets. The ambassadors were fascinated and impressed when we introduced the local specialties of Gangneung. If you have foreign friends visiting Korea, do recommend a visit to traditional markets.

After visiting the busy market, it was time for a more leisurely place. At the café street along Anmok Beach, you can admire the vast blue sea over a cup of tea.

The ambassadors were surprised that such a beautiful beach awaited just two to three hours away from Seoul. They picked it as one of their top recommendations for foreigners.

 Next on the itinerary was Phoenix Park, the venue for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. The ambassadors were delighted to take a look around the actual Olympic venue, albeit from a distance. It was a rare opportunity to get a feel of the event.

The next day was all about Pyeongchang. Despite the temperature falling to minus 27 degrees, Woljeongsa Temple on Odaesan Mountain was so breathtaking that it made the ambassadors’ list of top attractions. They were captivated by the charm of the temple.

Wondering how it would look in spring, summer, and fall, they look forward to visiting the temple at other times of the year. :)

Having nourished their mind and body at the temple, the ambassadors were ready to fill up their bellies. Jeonggangwon is where you can experience Korea’s food culture. They had the opportunity to make bibimbap, which is rice mixed with various ingredients. They gave the dish two thumbs-up for its simplicity and taste.

The ambassadors headed back to Seoul at the end of the short but satisfying trip. Check back for more of their adventures in Part 2 of the FAM Tour.

The long-awaited Korea Grand Sale 2018 has finally begun! On Thursday, January 18, 11 am, at the Dongdaemun Doota Mall Square, a kindliness campaign was held to celebrate the opening of the Korea Grand Sale, with around 100 guests who work in tourism.

The opening ceremony for this year’s Korea Grand Sale was even more relevant, as it marked our hopes for the success of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and our dedication to welcoming visitors to Korea with kindness.

Many people who worked hard for the Korea Grand Sale gathered together and were introduced to each other. Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah also attended the ceremony and exchanged greetings with the guests. Despite the cold weather, the excitement at the event could not be chilled.

At the opening ceremony, representatives from the Workers’ and University Students’ National Smile Teams recited the pledge of kindness together. To all the members of the National Smile Teams dedicated to welcoming visitors to Korea always with kindness, we look forward to seeing your wonderful and friendly smiles! ^^

From the first day of the 42-day Korea Grand Sale, the Event Center was visited by many foreigners. The Center will lend a helping hand to foreign travelers during the Grand Sale period. Various information about tourism in Korea can also be found at the Event Center. As it was the first day, the Event Center was kept very busy. Foreign visitors were delighted with the souvenirs made to celebrate the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year and the Korea Grand Sale, along with the Soohorang and Bandabi merchandise prepared in celebration of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games!

Together, we visited Doota Duty Free, where many foreign tourists come to visit, to promote the Korea Grand Sale and bring our kindness campaign to the staff working at the duty free shops.

As the staff are very experienced at welcoming foreign tourists into their stores, they were eager to respond to our campaign as well! Their cheerful smiles brought smiles to our own faces.

For the next 42 days, the Korea Grand Sale 2018 will cover everything from shopping, cultural activities, and tourism to other ways of experiencing Korea. And the Visit Korea Committee will work harder toward a Korea that more foreigners want to re-visit!

"National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul and Korea Grand Sale join together! The place that represents Korean culture. On your visit to Korea during Korea Grand Sale dates, let us know what culture places you want to visit! Win a special Docent coupon with our raffle draw event!"

Embroidered jewelry box set (3 winners)

PyeongChang 2018 gloves and muffler (7 winners)

PyeongChang 2018 passport wallet (15 winners)

Smiles representing Korea came together! To honor the people who work hard to make a friendlier Korea,

a meeting of the Worker’s National Smile Team was held and therein two new honorary members were appointed.

The event took place on Tuesday, January 23, at the Ferrum Hall, Ferrum Tower in Jung-gu, Seoul,

with the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games ahead.

 Everything had all been set to welcome the members of our National Smile Team

who practice kindness in their own fields.

This year’s first appointee as an honorary member of the National Smile Team was IOC member Ryu Seung-min,

who was elected as one of the mayors of the Athletes’ Village for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. As the global Olympic events are going to be held in Korea this year,

he has been most active in welcoming visitors to Korea.

The next person appointed as an honorary member was actress Kim So-hyun. With her bright smiles and friendly image, she always presents herself positively to the public.

And many other members of the National Smile Team appeared to make the event shine brighter :)

Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah gave a welcome speech. She delivered a message of thanks and encouragement for the many workers practicing kindness with

only 2 weeks left before the start of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

An appointment ceremony was held for the new honorary members,

IOC member Ryu Seung-min and actress Kim So-hyun. By making a pledge of kindness, now they joined the National Smile Team

among many claps from the audience. Congratulations to the two honorary members!

Now it was time to reveal the winners of the lucky draw box event,

which had been prepared at the entrance of the event hall! The lucky winners were drawn personally by Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah.

Three winners were chosen! Congratulations to all three winners. ^^

A delightful atmosphere surrounded the end of the event! A group photo is a must at this kind of event, isn’t it? We hope they will continue to work eagerly toward making a friendlier Korea with these smiles ^^

Korea Grand Sale 2018 First Boom-up Event! You’re invited to the Korea Grand Sale 2018! What would you like to buy? Choose a product (category) you’d like to buy during the Korea Grand Sale 2018, and explain why.

Winners of admission tickets to the Seoul Music Awards must provide proper identification (e.g. passport) to pick up their tickets.

Admission to Seoul Music Awards 2018 for 50 winners (2 tickets per winner)

PyeongChang 2018 Olympics mascot doll for 18 winners (either character to be sent randomly)

On January 9, the Visit Korea Committee and the Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK) organized a launch ceremony for the 17th Global Promotional Delegation for Korean Culture and Tourism at the National Museum of Korea.

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About 500 students, from middle school to college, were appointed as members after beating off stiff competition. They were given a warm welcome with a set of souvenirs and promotional materials.

The ceremony kicked off with a speech by Park Gi-tae, who is serving as the director of the VANK. He shared several effective ways of promoting Korea to foreigners!

Next, Service Improvement Team Leader Lee Eunjung of the Visit Korea Committee introduced the various programs of the Visit Korea Committee. She told students about the committee’s programs launched in celebration of the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year, and the kindness campaign, which aims to make Korea a country where foreigners would like to visit again.

We look forward to everyone, including the National Smile Team and the VANK’s delegates, playing their part in spreading warm smiles throughout Korea.

Even though it was their first day, the delegates listened attentively throughout the lecture.

The lecture was followed by a golden bell quiz. Everyone put up a good fight, and it was a close match from beginning to end.

The final four remaining in the quiz! They were awarded dolls of Soohorang and Bandabi, the official mascots of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Congratulations!

Next was a global etiquette training session as practice for the K-Smile Campaign ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. Etiquettes must be observed at all times. They are all the more important when interacting with foreign tourists. This informative session covered the basic rules of etiquettes.

The launch ceremony ended with a commemorative group photo. We look forward to the new delegates doing their part to welcome foreign tourists next month at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Did you know that the Korea Grand Sale—Korea’s largest nationwide all-in-one festival of shopping, cultural experiences, and sightseeing for foreign travelers—is starting next month?

The Visit Korea Committee held briefing sessions for the Korea Grand Sale in Dalian, Yantai, and Shanghai, China to inform more foreigners about attractive benefits they can enjoy in Korea at the festival period. Below are pictures from the Dalian session, held on December 15.

The Visit Korea Committee played a video clip introducing its programs. Travelers visiting Korea will be able to enjoy a variety of benefits in popular attractions throughout the country. : )

The attendees looked over the leaflet and were impressed by our efforts.

The attendees had the opportunity to enter a prize draw. The lucky winner of air tickets to Korea was envied by many.

The Korea Tour Card was another attractive prize. The card, which makes traveling in Korea more enjoyable and convenient, was presented to the winner by Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah herself.

At the Yantai briefing held on December 16, the Visit Korea Committee opened its own booth. Many attendees were drawn to our special event of Yut, a traditional game in Korea. As always, the Korean souvenirs were incredibly popular.

The briefing began in the presence of a huge crowd. With a higher number of tourists expected in Korea for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics, the upcoming Korea Grand Sale offers more benefits than ever. :)

Visitors can access local information and tourist services from the wheeled Tourist Service Center (TSC) running throughout Korea. Do visit the TSC at various landmark venues, including Gangwon Province, the host of the Winter Olympics.

The third briefing session of the Korea Grand Sale was held in Shanghai on December 19.

The session kicked off with a welcoming speech by Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah. We were excited to learn about the new companies and organizations who will be participating next year.

Just the poster alone was enough to give a big expectation of the new year to begin. The sale offers not only discounts, but also a ton of fun events for tourists.

A banquet was held at the end of the session. Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah interacted with each and every attendee, sharing her anticipation of the Korea Grand Sale.

Prize draw winners were announced at the awards ceremony. The lucky winners walked away with air tickets to Korea and the Korea Tour Card.

The briefing sessions may be over, but our spirit of hospitality continues. We will organize many activities next year to attract more foreign tourists to Korea.

On November 29 and December 2, Asia’s top music awards festival, MAMA, was held in Japan and Hong Kong, respectively. As K-pop has become very popular not only in Asia but all over the world, many people showed their interest and love for Korean culture.

First, this is the promotion in Japan held on November 29. As always are a step ahead of the trend, the Japanese people showed a phenomenal interest in K-pop. Seeing the great popularity of K-pop idol stars, we realized how they had contributed to setting the stage for the ever-growing interest in the country of Korea.

The promotional materials featuring Korean top stars were highly sought out. We were glad to see that we suited the taste of Japanese fans. :)

And on December 2, the promotion continued in Hong Kong. This is our “Visit Korea Year” booth, which received overwhelming response even outside the stage. Many people from Hong Kong visited the booth to learn about useful information and enjoy events.

Korea is well known not only for its K-pop music, but shopping is another must when you travel Korea. Our booth also introduced the “2018 Korea Grand Sale,” which is an all-in-one festival of shopping, cultural experiences, and sightseeing for foreign travelers to take place over the period of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. Many visitors showed their interest in this festival.

Besides, there are many other useful programs that you can take advantage of, including the Korean Tour Card and the Hands-Free Service that stores and delivers your travel luggage. So don’t miss out!

Now the MAMA Red Carpet event has begun. Despite being a preliminary session for the main awards ceremony, it was just as packed with fans as the main event!

Here came a guest on the Red Carpet. Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah joined the show! Her smile always well represents the kindness and warmth of Korea, and here she appeared with her bright smile again.

At the stage with heated atmosphere, a video clip for the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year played to boast the charm of Korea, and famous artists delivered fantastic performances! At this year’s MAMA, we could clearly tell the reason why many foreigners visit Korea.

We will continue to welcome foreign visitors next year with more diverse cultural events.

The Visit Korea Committee participated in the 2017 Korea Festival in India from Saturday, November 25 to Sunday, November 26! Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization, the event presented Korea’s iconic tourist attractions, traditional culture experiences, Korean dishes, K-pop, and K-beauty.

 Want to know why you have to visit Korea this winter? That’s because the Korea Grand Sale is about to begin alongside the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games! Korea’s largest festival for shopping, cultural experiences, and sightseeing for foreign tourists is to take place from January 18 to February 28 next year in Korea! Don’t you feel excited already?

 The Visit Korea Committee’s booth was crowded with visitors even when seen from a distance, where we got great attention for the whole weekend and was cheered as much to promote our campaign.

 One of the promotional events was Yunnori, a traditional Korean board game. Even though the local visitors have never seen the game before, they all had so much fun playing it and were delighted to win giveaway gifts.

We participated in a media conference held for about 40 journalists from local and Korean press organizations to have a valuable time introducing the Korea Festival and greeting and having lunch with VIPs.

 The intense competition for coverage among Indian media outlets showed how Korea is getting more and more attention internationally! As the event has been covered nationwide in India, we hope the Indians get to see the great culture of Korea once again.

 We also showcased the VR experience zone that is really hot these days, hoping the visitors could have a realistic tour of Korea even while in India. :)

This corner was to promote the PyeongChang Olympics! As the 2018 Winter Olympics was being introduced worldwide, a lot of local Indians paid attention and visited us here. Why don’t you visit the host city of Pyeongchang next February?

There was a hanbok experience section where visitors could have a unique time trying the Korean traditional clothes on in person. The local people were fascinated by the refined charms of hanbok, especially among women. :D

 A roulette event booth was always full of visitors as we provided various giveaways and experiences for them! Even I myself couldn’t take my eyes off the exciting event.

 Some of Korea’s iconic performances were presented as well. The event site was buzzing with performances by b-boy crews! As more and more people came to enjoy the exciting music and awesome b-boying, the show got into the full swing.

There was another performance called Nanta. While appreciating its exciting beats, people had fun bursting into laughter. Enjoying the various experiences and performances, visitors could get closer to Korea.

As reported above, the oversea fair ended as a success. If this event has left you with a special memory of Korean culture, why don’t you visit Korea itself?

Last Thursday, November 23! Many in the tourism industry are working tirelessly to make Korea a friendlier place and the Visit Korea Committee invited some of these distinguished individuals to a ceremony where they were commissioned to the National Smile Team!

Fifty-seven professionals working directly with foreign tourists in immigration/customs, transportation, accommodation, shopping, dining, tour information and other areas attended the very special function. The program promoted the success of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games (now less than one hundred days away!!) and this made the awards ceremony even more meaningful.

A unique “flash mob” to wish for a successful PyeongChang Olympics by members of the 17th University Students’ National Smile Team who are working to spread the K-Smile campaign set the mood at the event! With members of both the Workers’ National Smile Team and the University Students’ National Smile Team in attendance, the flash mob surprise broke up any awkward silences around the tables at the event hall.

Next, Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah spoke to the audience. She thanked the workers in the tourism industry for their support in critical roles that are ensuring the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games goes off without a hitch. :-)

The ceremony for giving awards and certificates of recognition! Ten members of the Workers’ National Smile Team came up on stage to receive tokens on behalf of the fifty-seven new members being commissioned to their roles on the Team. Secretary-General Han conveyed awards and congratulated recipients individually.

For the sake of time, only ten people were on stage at the event, but let’s not forget to congratulate all the new members of the team! We have high hopes for what each Workers’ National Smile Team member will do to demonstrate friendliness to everyone they meet in the future.

Actor Hong Jong-hyun was also commissioned for the Workers’ National Smile Team at the ceremony!!!! Hong is enjoying popularity overseas and he never fails to be friendly to foreigners and show a sense of hospitality. :-)

His smile is a national treasure!!! Anyone seeing his happy expression will also find the corners of their mouth heading north. LOL! Hong is sparing no effort to help create a friendlier Korea. Here he is holding the pledge of kindness that he signed.

Finally, no event like this can end without a group smile shot with all the Workers’ National Smile Team together!!!!!! Congratulations again to the fifty-seven new team members who have been commissioned to lead efforts to develop a more hospitable culture in Korea... Yippee!

The Visit Korea Committee joined the Korea exhibition at the 2017 World Travel Market, which was held in the UK from November 6th to 8th, to publicize the Visit Korea Year.

At the Korea exhibition, Korean airliners, hotels, travel agencies, and local governments, as well as the Visit Korea Committee, promoted the charms of Korea and the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, drawing the attention of many visitors. :)

The Korea exhibition was so crowded with visitors! Do you see Soohorang, the mascot of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games? The exhibition showcased a variety of tourism products of Gangwon Province, where the PyeongChang Olympics will be held. It also offered Korean food and culture experience activities, virtual reality activities, and free giveaways, attracting many visitors!

The Visit Korea Committee’s booth also enjoyed a lot of visitors. As a promotional booth for the 2016-2018 Visit Korea Year, it focused particularly on Korea tourism services for foreign travelers. :)

At a “like” event, visitors received tourism leaflets and free giveaways. You should really come to Korea! The country has more surprises than you can imagine.

“Korea Tourism Networking,” one of the main events at the Korea exhibition, introduced 80 local UK reporters and tourism professionals to various aspects of Korea. We were nervous and excited hosting such a big event and curious about how they would think of Korea.

The Korea Tour Card is an unmissable item in a promotion of Korea. This well-rounded card is comparable to the Oyster Card and London Pass in the UK. We explained the guests a wide range of benefits provided by the Korea Tour Card available for shopping, sightseeing, cultural experiences, food, and others.

Our presentation was well received by them. Some of the guests showed genuine interest in the Korea Tour Card and told us that they would like to use it if they have a chance to visit Korea. :) We highly recommend it! Our mission doesn’t end there.

Now we’ll keep up our efforts to promote the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics and to increase return visits to Korea! Please keep your interest in our activities.

The Seoul Welcome Week, organized with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to attract foreign tourists, enjoyed a successful run in the month of October. The Visit Korea Committee opened welcome centers from October 13 to 22 in major tourist destinations: Myeongdong, Dongdaemun, Namdaemun, Itaewon, Gwangjang Market, Hongdae, and Namsan.

The welcome centers provided tourists with various information on popular attractions, festivals, and events. Visitors were able to get prompt service and have their questions answered immediately. :)

Foreign tourists learned how to play a traditional Korean game called ddakji. The folded paper tiles also made a good souvenir for them to bring back home.

The highlight of the Welcome Week was the prize giveaways. Visitors received vouchers for admission to popular attractions in the city. Do make use of your voucher, and create more unforgettable memories during your stay!

The welcome centers offered visitors the chance to wear hanbok, the traditional Korean attire. Don’t you agree they go well with the background?

The welcome centers remained open into the late hours. We’re ready to welcome you any time, be it day or night. Not surprisingly, Seoul’s vibrant nightlife kept visitors coming all night long.

The Welcome Week flew by with many foreign tourists visiting Korea in the month of October. We look forward to welcoming more tourists at new attractions next time.

- Marking 100 days until the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, the Visit Korea Committee opened the 2nd promotional booth at Haneda International Airport -

- Various events are being held to promote the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games targeted at passersby at the airport -

Picture 1_ Japanese visitors pose for a photo with Soohorang and Bandabi at the promotional booth.

Picture 2_ Japanese visitors take a photo with Soohorang and Bandabi at the promotional booth.

Picture 3_ Japanese visitors participating in the quiz contest receives the Korea Tour Card as a giveaway at the promotional booth.

Picture 4_ Japanese visitors have their photo taken with the Korea Tour Card at the promotional booth.

- K-Smile training videos starring Julian, Zhang Yu’an, and Robin have been produced for dissemination.

- Over 300,000 copies of customer service manuals and multilingual conversation cards are to be distributed for widespread practices of the K-Smile Campaign.

Picture 1) A screenshot of the training video for storeowners at traditional markets

Picture 2) The nine types of customer service manuals for each field having direct contact with tourists

The Visit Korea Committee launches an online event for foreigners around the world to mark the G-100 of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

- The University Students’ National Smile Team carried out promotional activities to mark the G-100 countdown to the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games - - A relay kindness campaign is being held at five university campuses in Gangwon Province -

Pictures 1 and 2. At the event of “Smile Day with the University Students’ National Smile Team to Mark G-100 of PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games” held on the 28th in Hongdae Walking Street, the student members perform a flash mob wishing for the success of the Olympics. Photography by Visit Korea Committee

Picture 3. At the event of “Smile Day with the University Students’ National Smile Team to Mark G-100 of PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games” held on the 28th in Hongdae Walking Street, visiting citizens wait to participate in the crossword game. Photography by Visit Korea Committee

Picture 4. At the event of “Smile Day with the University Students’ National Smile Team to Mark G-100 of PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games” held on the 28th in Hongdae Walking Street, children participate in making eco-bags using stamps with the mascots Soohorang and Bandibi. Photography by Visit Korea Committee

Photo 5. At the event of “Smile Day with the University Students’ National Smile Team to Mark G-100 of PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games” held on the 28th in Hongdae Walking Street, a citizen gets a tattoo on the back of the hand sporting the Olympic mascots. Photography by Visit Korea Committee

Picture 6. At the event of “Smile Day with the University Students’ National Smile Team to Mark G-100 of PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games” held on the 28th in Hongdae Walking Street, student members pose with citizens participating in an Olympic-themed matching game. Photography by Visit Korea Committee

While Korea is busy preparing for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, Japan is also not far away from hosting the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games! As Korea and Japan are to welcome many foreign visitors from now on, the two countries decided to hold a special event to spread a culture of friendly hospitality among their people.

The University Students’ National Smile Team, always at the forefront of promoting a culture of kindness, spent two nights in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, from October 24 while sharing their practices of kindness. Let’s take a look at how our proud students were working to spread a culture of kindness even abroad. :)

Japan is famous for its hot springs! For hospitality training, we visited a hotel with the Yutagami Hot Spring, which is popular with foreign visitors. Under a program of omotenashi—a Japanese mindset that covers the virtues, kindness, and hospitality necessary for tourism—we learned about the Japanese culture of kindness and also took part in hands-on activities!

We were back in Niigata three months after the last visit in July where the prefecture and the Visit Korea Committee signed an MOU! This time we were together with our student members, adding to the excitement. :) In this visit, we opened up new channels of communication, talking about the progress made by the K-Smile Campaign since the signing of the MOU and our experiences in the hospitality training!

Niigata Prefecture’s Vice-Governor Takai Morio presented us with souvenirs, including dolls of the prefecture’s mascot, and offered words of encouragement to the University Students’ National Smile Team members, who are working hard to promote the K-Smile Campaign.

With renewed energy we headed to our next destination, the Airline International & Resort College. We spent time with the students sharing the respective hospitality each party practices at a student level aiming to make the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games a success, and also engaged in activities to expand mutual exchanges!

Even though we were only there for a short time, we were able to become good friends quickly since we all shared the same goal of spreading kindness culture! We learned a lot and spent some quality time with the other students.

The Visit Korea Committee, the University Students’ National Smile Team, and Niigata Prefecture will take the lead in spreading a culture of kindness for the success of the mega-events that each country will be hosting from next year!

We visited the International France Travel Market (IFTM) to promote the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year, where countries from all over the world had come together! For four days from September 26th to the 29th, we carried out promotional activities from a variety of different concepts. Perhaps thanks to the upcoming PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, Korea’s popularity was exploding!

With so many different countries participating, the event halls were packed with interesting sights you couldn’t take your eyes off of! Shall we take a look at the attractions Korea’s promotional booths offered to visitors?

The Korea Tour Card is a must need for foreigners visiting Korea. Thanks to the love of tourists, the Korea Tour Card has already sold over 120,000! Next time you visit Korea, please try out the Korea Tour Card. :)

Besides this, we showed videos and explained to visitors about the programs provided by the Visit Korea Committee including the Hands-Free Service and the Korea Sale FESTA. :) The 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year is always ready to welcome visitors!

Visitors could ask more details at these consultation tables arranged inside one of Korea’s booths! Korea is a must-visit travel destination full of tourist sites and landmarks where the traditional and the modern come together. It is also host to the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.

There was also a K-Food promotional booth attracting the taste buds of foreigners!! A variety of food and drinks were prepared to demonstrate that there is more to Korean food besides bibimbap and bulgogi. Everyone paid their compliments on the deliciousness of the food while enjoying their meals!

He was demonstrating the dragon’s beard candy—a delight both to the taste and to the eyes! It’s a popular snack among foreigners visiting Korea’s Insa-dong or Myeong-dong. It felt refreshing to watch it being demonstrated here in France along with the locals.  And it tasted absolutely great!

And how about the event where you could get your name carefully written in Hangul (Korean characters)? :) Even if the characters were unfamiliar, wouldn’t you enjoy seeing your own name being written in them? People focused intently as each brush stroke created new characters!

How did you like the four days filled with various events and experiences to try out at the International France Travel Market? We felt so blessed to have been able to virtually experience so many different countries and promote Korea to many foreigners. We hope to see you again with more promotional activities that will help make Korea a country that foreigners would like to visit again. 

- Welcoming centers have set up at seven major tourists spots throughout Seoul, including Myeongdong, Dongdaemun and Namdaemun.

- The centers play host to various activities, including hands-on traditional games and their locally themed programs.

Photo: Members of the University Students’ National Smile Team help tourists find their way during the Spring Welcome Season in May.

The Korea Sale FESTA is a much-loved event that offers big discounts and bargains. On September 29, we went to Doota Mall in Dongdaemun to check out the Korea Sale FESTA.

Ta-da! The Tourist Service Center (TSC) was stationed in front of Doota Mall. Staff members in yellow uniforms were welcoming visitors to the Korea Sale FESTA. The place was full of events and attractions, and the lively atmosphere filled me with excitement.

The K-Smile campaign aims to make Korea a friendlier place to visit. This mother and a daughter decided to join the campaign by signing a kindness pledge together. If you come across the TSC, why not take the time to make a kindness pledge yourself?

Foreign tourists smile for the camera after receiving help from tour guides and interpreters at the TSC.

That day there was a special visit by Na Jong Min, the First Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Mr. Na took a look around the event along with Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah and gave words of encouragement to the members of the University Students’ National Smile Team.

We took a group photo in front of the TSC and pledged to do our best until the end of Korea Sale FESTA.

The TSC was still running late into the night, helping foreign visitors to enjoy a pleasant shopping experience at Doota Mall. The TSC will continue to visit many places throughout the Korea Sale FESTA. Where will it go next? Look out for more from the TSC in the future! The TSC will be there to make your trip more convenient!

 The Tourism Expo JAPAN is one of Asia’s largest travel fairs! The Visit Korea Committee also participated to promote the campaign of the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year.

The Expo was held from September 21st to 24th, and professionals of the travel industry, the media, and other visitors from all around Japan made it even more meaningful. At B2B consultations taking place from the 21st to 22nd in particular, we worked hard promoting our campaign. It was so a rewarding experience. :)

 As these consultations were giving international networking opportunities, both the consultants and consultees seemed very serious! We met up with many businesspeople one by one, informing them of the Visit Korea Committee and its different services in detail.

The 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year’s booth showed a variety of its services. They included the Hands-Free Service, Korea Tour Card, and Korea Sale FESTA and were so well arranged that visitors can be quickly informed even at one glance! People dropping by at the booth read the leaflet and expressed their eagerness to visit Korea. Their big interest in Korea was so exciting to me! :)

In addition, a Korean culture zone had been set up in the Expo hall and attracted many people with its cultural experience programs! At the Korea booth, the Visit Korea Committee, Jeju International Airport, Airport Railroad Express, and Hana Tour held an OX quiz event about their respective programs. So many people were eager to participate! The giveaways for the event included Jeju Airline flight tickets, Korea Tour Cards worth KRW 100,000, Centermark Hotel vouchers, and K-Travel Bus tickets!

K-beauty is far more than just a trend! An expert demonstrated Korean cosmetic techniques at the Expo. With Korean style makeup, you can create a fair skin and a natural and pure look.

 Through these various public relations activities, we were able to help people better know Korea! The 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year campaign is coming back with more fun and exciting promotional content! Please do look forward to our next events.

- The campaign wished for the success of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games & helped spread culture of kindness -

Photo 1) Chairman Park Sam-koo declares the opening of the 2017 Korea–Japan Festival in Tokyo. The two-day event runs until September 24th in Hibiya Park, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Photography by Visit Korea Committee

Photo 2) A group of performers consisting of the University Students’ National Smile Team members and university students affiliated with the Korea Foundation deliver a flash mob performance in the Korea–Japan Festival 2017 in Tokyo to wish for a successful 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games. Photography by Visit Korea Committee

Photo 3) A Japanese visitor is delighted during an event at a booth installed to promote Korean tourism as part of the Korea–Japan Festival 2017 in Tokyo.

Photo 4) The Visit Korea Committee stages activities to promote Korean tourism centering around a diversity of programs such as the 2016–2018 Korea Visit Year, Korea Tour Card, and Korea Sale FESTA at the Tourism Expo Japan 2017, which was held on September 21st–24th in the Tokyo Big Sight. Photography by Visit Korea Committee

South-East Asia is where the Korean Wave is greatly enjoyed and people are highly interested in Korea!! We were really able to experience the popularity of Korean Wave at the 2017 Korea Festival that took place in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia.

For four days from September 21st to 24th, tour festival events, traditional performances, as well as promotional events for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games took place at Lotte Shopping Avenue in Jakarta! And with concerts being held once a day at the main stadium, there was simply no shortage of distractions.

Wherever you went, you could be sure of the great popularity of actor Lee Min-ho, the ambassador for the Visit Korea Committee. After receiving various leaflets and souvenirs from the Committee’s booth, fans always took care to take pictures in front of this display board.

While promoting information about travel in Korea and the Visit Korea Committee, we were able to meet so many people. :)

Of course, we couldn’t forget about the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in our promotions for Korea. Another booth was set up as part of the special try-out event where you could get a taste of winter sports! As warm as it is in South-East Asia, people were nonetheless highly interested in next year’s Winter Olympics! :)

Next is the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year’s roulette event, where many people came to participate. We also included the Korea Tour Card as one of the prizes for you to enjoy a more comfortable visit to Korea filled with more benefits! We hope you take advantage of the card when you visit Korea. :)

We were able to enjoy not only these events but concerts that took place once a day during the event period. These included art shows by the Painters: HERO, hanbok fashion shows, and taekwondo demonstrations. Attendees were treated to concerts where they could get a taste of Korean culture.

We can’t forget K-pop when it comes to Korean culture. The skills displayed by the participants of the K-pop Cover Dance Festival seemed to rival those of real K-pop idols. Their performance seemed to transform the festival hall into a real K-pop concert!

For the four days, we were able to promote Korea not only through the promotional booth but through a variety of events and try-outs where we got to meet so many great people. Awaiting next year’s Korea Festival, we promise to work harder toward promoting Korea. :) Meet you all in Korea!

The 2017 Korea–Japan Festival, the largest cultural exchange event between the two neighboring countries, was held at the Hibiya Park in Tokyo on September 23rd and 24th. Let’s find out which performances caught the attention of visitors.

Representatives of the two countries have made congratulatory remarks at the opening ceremony, boosting the festive mood. On behalf of the Korean delegation, Visit Korea Committee Chairman Park Sam-koo announced the opening of the event and it was followed by the special congratulatory addresses by Lee Hee-bum, the chairman of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee, and Choi Moon-soon, the governor of Gangwon, the host province of the winter Olympics.

This two-day event was joined by the members of the University Students’ National Smile Team who are at the forefront of spreading a culture of kindness. The members who had worked on preparations for visitors were giving the final touches by putting promotional leaflets and souvenirs neatly on the tables! :)

The elaborately arranged booth featured the programs of putting tattoo stickers and making eco-bags based on the concept of Soohorang and Bandabi—the mascots of the forthcoming PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games—as well as Olympic winter games in virtual reality and a roulette game! As a reflection of the huge interest in the Winter Olympics, a large number of people visited our booth.

Attracting the most attention was the roulette event! It was designed to promote the K-Smile Campaign vigorously. Participants in the roulette game were excited over which kind of souvenir they would get.

Another popular event was tattoo sticker decoration! The Olympic mascots Suhorang and Bandarang were enjoying wide popularity in Japan as well! By next year, perhaps Suhorang and Bandarang might surpass Pororo the Little Penguin, a Korean animation character loved all over the world, in popularity!? :D

Adults as well as children were having a delightful time taking pictures with Suhorang and Bandabi.

To give emotional support to hardworking members of the University Students’ National Smile Team, Chairman Park Sam-koo and Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah of the Visit Korea Committee visited the booth! All the people had a great time taking commemorative photographs.

The highlight of this promotion was a flash mob performance to wish for the success of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games!

It featured a collaboration between the Korea Foundation and the University Students’ National Smile Team! It seems that we have moved a step closer toward the PyeongChang Olympics through the performance. This event is expected to have contributed to expanding the exchanges between the two countries.

- Visit Korea Committee held a launch ceremony for the 17th University Students’ National Smile Team in Pyeongchang, Gangwon - - 100 students wished for the success of PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games through a flash mob performance -

On September 15, the Visit Korea Committee held a launch ceremony for the 17th University Students’ National Smile Team at Yongpyong Resort in Pyeongchang, Gangwon. The team members are cheering together and wishing the success of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. Photograph by Visit Korea Committee

On September 15, the 17th University Students’ National Smile Team presented a flash mob performance at Yongpyong Resort in Pyeongchang, Gangwon to promote the success of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. Photograph by Visit Korea Committee

On September 15, members of the 17th University Students’ National Smile Team are wishing for the success of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games at the launch ceremony at Yongpyong Resort in Pyeongchang, Gangwon. Photograph by Visit Korea Committee

For the past five months, the 16th University Students’ National Smile Team enjoyed a successful term. Building upon their energy, the Visit Korea Committee held a launch ceremony for the 17th University Students’ National Smile Team. On September 15 and 16, this launch ceremony was held at a special location: Gangwon Province, the host of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Shall we take a look at the first activity of the 17th University Students’ National Smile Team?

The highlight of the launch ceremony was the orientation. The team members had the opportunity to get to know one another! They were informed about the activities scheduled for the next five months, and learned how to make online content using social media.

The 17th University Students’ National Smile Team will play a leading role in promoting the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. As members of the National Smile Team, they will engage in various activities to spread a culture of kindness until February next year, so as to ensure the success of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. To reflect their hope for the success of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, the team presented a flash mob performance in Yongpyong Resort. Everyone danced completely in sync even though it was only their first attempt.

Kindness and warm smiles are virtues of the University Students’ National Smile Team. :) Ahead of promoting the K-Smile Campaign at Gangneung Jungang Market, they attended K-Smile and traditional market training sessions.

The team’s first in-person activity was to boost participation in the pledge of kindness among stall keepers at traditional markets. They wore bright smiles on their faces and helped to spread positive energy to the participants.

There are high hopes and expectations for the new appointees of the 17th team. We hope to see them set an example as K-Smile ambassadors, and to do their best in creating a warm, hospitable Korea. Cheers to the 17th University Students’ National Smile Team!

Korea’s largest travel fair was jointly organized by the Visit Korea Committee, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and the Korea Association of Travel Agents. The 2017 Seoul International Travel Mart (SITM) was held for two days on September 12 and 13. More than 1200 travel agencies from within and outside Korea participated in the event.

The 2017 SITM kicked off with an opening ceremony. The participants made use of this opportunity to interact with tourism professionals from all around the world. ^^

Various tourism products were introduced at one of the many booths. Students from a tourism high school even gave out handmade bread and cookies. Throughout the event hall, it was wonderful to meet so many people involved in promoting tourism in Korea.

This is the Visit Korea Committee’s booth! The key programs introduced were the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year, Korea Tour Card, K-Smile, and the Hands-Free Service. And let’s not forget the Korea Sale FESTA, Korea’s largest shopping and tourism event. The nationwide festival will begin on September 28.

In the evening, the welcoming banquet was held in Some Sevit to celebrate the opening of the SITM. Some Sevit is comprised of three manmade floating islands that light up the Han River, creating a beautiful scene. It’s highly recommended to foreigners, especially with the recent cool weather.

The event enjoyed a huge turnout of 1,200 participants. Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah said a few words at the opening ceremony.

The unique appeal of Seoul lies in its harmony of tradition and modernity. Which are the must-see places in Seoul for foreign tourists?

At the opening performance, 19 distinguished guests including the vice-mayor of Seoul took the stage to introduce the city’s landmarks!! The eight landmarks, selected as the pride of the city, were Seoullo 7017, N Seoul Tower, DDP, Lotte World Tower, Gwangjang Market, Seoul Trail, Seoul City Wall, and the National Museum of Korea.

The audience was captivated by The Painters: HERO, a non-verbal art performance featuring dynamic moves and vivid colors.

During the two days of the 2017 SITM, the Visit Korea Committee was able to introduce its key activities to visitors while learning about other tourism programs. The committee will continue working hard to promote Korea to more foreigners. Do look forward to our next event. ^^

- Over 400 foreign buyers from 50 countries were welcomed and engaged in business exchange -

Photo 1. Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah delivers a welcome message at the 2017 Seoul International Travel Mart.

Photo 2. Participants enjoy the banquet at the 2017 Seoul International Travel Mart.

Photo 3. Attendees at the 2017 Seoul International Travel Mart

- The 100 members of the 17th University Students’ National Smile Team hold their launch ceremony in Pyeongchang, Gangwon -

- The K-Smile Campaign is to be conducted at traditional markets of Gangwon -

The University Students’ National Smile Team perform a flash-mob to celebrate the G-200 countdown to the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

- Promotion Begins at 2017 Seoul International Travel Mart Targeting More than 1,200 Domestic and Overseas Tourist Agencies

- The Korea Tour Card has sold over 100,000 copies for 7 months since its release in late January

1. The Visit Korea Committee provided visitors with consultation service at its promotion booth in the 2016 SITM.

2. Foreign tourists buying the Korean Tour Card

3. Foreign tourists holding the Korean Tour Card

Amazon gift card worth $20

The Visit Korea Committee attended the 2017 MATTA Fair in Malaysia to promote the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year.

During the three-day fair from September 8 to 10, we had the opportunity to promote Korea, and to introduce the Korea Tour Card and other programs of the Visit Korea Committee.

The MATTA Fair was a huge travel fair with more than 1,000 booths and 100,000 visitors. A good number of countries had their own unique booths that allowed visitors to appreciate the diversity of the international community.

Many visitors dropped by the Visit Korea Committee’s booth within the Korea Hall. It was rewarding to see so many people asking questions in exchange for our leaflets, which contained souvenirs and useful information.

The visitors easily understood the rules of Yut Nori, a traditional Korean board game.

Even some passersby joined in after watching a few rounds.

We were grateful for the interest shown by foreigners in our traditional game, and hope to introduce more games next time.

Another event that we organized was a pop quiz. To our delight, many people were already aware of the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year and gave the right answer.

The Seoul Booth was among the several booths dedicated to Korea. The Seoullo path, which opened in May this year, has gained reputation as a new landmark of the city. Seoullo connects 17 paths featuring major tourist attractions and is highly recommended for foreign tourists.

Thanks to everyone’s interest and participation, we were able to promote Korea to the world at the 2017 Matta Fair. We hope to see more foreign tourists visiting Korea.

Do you remember the online survey event in celebration of the G-200 of the PyeongChang Olympics that took place in July?

At that time, the Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm was selected as the most popular tourist destination by Koreans, and the Alpensia Ski Jumping Center was the first choice for people from other countries!

To show you more vivid views of the most popular tourist destinations from the survey results, the online service staff of the Visit Korea Committee went to Pyeongchang.

It took almost three hours by car from Seoul to Pyeongchang in Gangwon Province. On arrival in Pyeongchang, it was the right time to get something to eat! We all know that a loaf of bread is better than the song of many birds!

Prior to our coverage coming in full swing, we had the famous Korean Table d’hote with gondre-bab (seasoned thistle with rice) in Gangwon Province. When you are on a trip, trying the region’s local food is more than just a great experience. It can be something memorable later on, and besides, it is usually very healthy! The abundantly served gondre-bab can be found anywhere in Gangwon Province. We strongly recommend trying it!

After the meal, our coverage began!

The first place to visit is the Alpensia Ski Jumping Center, which was chosen to be the most popular tourist destination by people from other countries! Having overwhelmingly topped on the social media pages in English, Japanese, and Chinese (Traditional), this place plans to host the competitions of ski-jumping and Nordic combined at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

We took a ride on the monorail to go up to the top of the ski-jumping hills. It was so steep and high that we already felt dizzy going up for 5 minutes.

With the Special Monorail Ticket, you can go up to the ski-jumping hills and see ski-jumpers prepare to glide down at a very close distance.

The height of the jumping hills is about 69 meters, which is almost 850 meters above sea level. (The athletes who can make their jumps here are truly amazing!) Due to the climate of Gangwon Province where it snows heavily in winter, the path to the top of the jumping hills is made of mesh to prevent snow from piling up! Our legs shook as we walked on it!

You might be wondering what Gangwon Province looks like from the observatory. As expected, the panoramic view of Alpensia and Gangwon Province from up here was spectacular. It looks green because it’s the beginning of autumn now. But when the Winter Olympics are held in February, the whole area will be covered in snow; hence the view will be even more beautiful!

The next place is the one that received ardent responses from Korean tourists! It’s the Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm, where sheep are running around a wide field of grass!

With an admission ticket, you can have an amazing experience of feeding cute sheep with dried hay! We wanted to stay a bit longer as we all had a good time with the sheep, eating everything we gave them. But it was time to leave for the next destination: Gangneung for dinner!

Gangneung is one of the three host cities of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics. Located on the east coast of Korea, it attracts tourists with its local dishes made from fresh seafood.

It is a jaw-droppingly huge spicy seafood stew, isn’t it? It may look a bit strange to foreign tourists, but we would recommend trying it when you visit the east coast. The broth made from fresh seafood tastes amazing!

Anmok Beach took 1st place on the social media page of Chinese (Simplified)! It was a nice place to be even when the sun went down, as the coffee streets were illuminated with beautiful lights. What do you think of the day and night at Anmok Beach? Don’t you think they feel quite different? With beautifully lit cafes, Anmok Beach looked stunning after sunset and was perfect for an evening walk!

The first thing we did on the second day was to try Gangneung’s two local plates: gamja-ongsimi, a soup with potato dumplings, and gamja-jeon, a crispy potato pancake!

You can also have a variety of dishes made of potatoes in this city, including gamja-kalguksu and gamja-sujebi. If you love potatoes and happen to be in Gangneung, you should try a bowl of gamja-ongsimi!

This is the Yeongjin Beach Seawall, the place our staff were so enthusiastic about! This place is also famous for being a shooting location of the drama Guardian: The Lonely and Great God!

Every moment we spent here was shining because the weather was good, because the weather was bad, and because the weather was moderate. * _ * On this day, the sky was so clear and looked very harmonious with the sea; it was just awe-inspiring scenery!

Farther down from the Yeongjin Beach Seawall, there is another beach called Kangmun. It is also a popular place that offers photo zones along the beach so that families, friends, and couples can take great photos and keep their memorable moments! If you are visiting Gangneung, you should visit at least one of the many beaches! People even visit the east coast in winter to see the sea.

This is the PyeongChang 2018 House, a public relations center for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, where you can get a sense of the big events already!

The center provides VR devices and 4-D screening to give visitors a livelier experience of winter sports and an introduction to Pyeongchang, Gangneung, and Jeongseon!

Once you have visited the center, please remember to leave your message of support for a successful Olympics! ^^

The last place we would like to introduce is the Seongyojang House, Gangneung. It is designated as the Important Folklore Cultural Heritage No. 5, and known to be one of the best traditional houses in Korea! The house now offers the hanok stay service—a hanok is Korea’s traditional-style house. Just being out there could offer a spiritual healing session, as the property is surrounded by natural beauty.

It’s been a short but very fruitful exploration of the tourist attractions around Pyeongchang! We were thrilled to visit the hosting cities of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games prior to the openings. ^ _ ^

We hope you will enjoy more of the vibrant and beautiful Pyeongchang this winter!

- The Visit Korea Committee held a business presentation on the Korea Tour Card for Local Governments -

<Photo_1 Business Presentation on Korea Tour Card _ Business Presentation>

<Photo_2 Business Presentation on Korea Tour Card _ Business Presentation>

The Korea Tour Card is something you may find as important as your passport when visiting Korea. The card, available for foreign visitors only, was discussed during an information session for Korean local governments on Wed, August 30. Attended by officials from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Visit Korea Committee, and local governments (marketing departments), the session was held in Airport Railroad’s meeting room at Seoul Station to discuss ways to improve the card.

Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah delivered the opening remarks.

The session was followed by a promotional video on the Korea Tour Card, which can be used for transportation, shopping, cultural activities, and sightseeing. The video presented various ways to use the card and the benefits it has.

Marketing Team Leader Jeong Juyeong of the Visit Korea Committee reported that the Korea Tour Card’ popularity is ever growing among foreign visitors and, thanks to its wide range of benefits available at more than 2,000 stores, it has sold over 80,000 copies in only six months since its launch.

A great synergy will be made if the use of the card goes beyond Seoul into other cities across the country.

After the discussions, a Q&A followed. There were various opinions, questions, and positive responses.

Finally, we wrapped up the meeting with a commemorative photo with all participants. We look forward to seeing what other benefits the Korea Tour Card will bring. We will continue working to ensure that with just one Korea Tour Card people can enjoy what Korea has to offer as much as possible.

An awards ceremony was held to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the 16th Global Promotional Delegation for Korean Culture and Tours, who began their mission as delegates in June. :)

Gathered on the 1st floor of VANK’s “Nesting Birds” Seowon in Bomun-dong, Seoul, on Wednesday, August 30, the delegation shared their experience for about an hour and a half with the awardees giving a presentation on their exemplary activities and a lecture being given on the importance of global promotional activities.

The 16th Delegation promoted Korea to many foreigners in different places through their own unique ways. :) A friendly smile is essential for a delegate to approach a foreign stranger. We are so proud of the delegates who truly embodied and promoted K-Smile ^^

Certificates of merit, medals, and gifts were awarded to those who conducted outstanding activities!! We believe these certificates and medals illustrate we are one step closer to globally promoting Korea.

A celebratory event is always accompanied by group photos~! Service Improvement Team Leader Lee Eunjung of the Visit Korea Committee and VANK Director Park Gi-tae joined the awardees for group photos.

As it was a ceremony to award outstanding promotional activities, the awardees gave presentations on their own experience, helping everyone see the efforts they made to promote Korea.

 We hope to see all members of the Global Promotional Delegation for Korean Culture and Tours continue their exemplary efforts to promote Korea to the world

The Tourist Service Center (TSC) provides all necessary services for foreign tourists! This day, the TSC gained a lot of interest and attention at the Korea International Tourism Show.

From August 24th to 27th, the TSC devoted itself in providing tourists with a lot more useful information and amenities.

It can be tiring to see such a big exposition. Refreshments were served to visitors to keep it up! We shared nice and cold drinks with people who took a simple quiz and signed on for the Pledge of Kindness!

You could go inside and experience a livelier trip with VR devices!

Besides photo guest books, there was also a blackboard where you can leave your own message. You wouldn’t forget to leave your message like this if you had found the TSC, would you?

A cute little friend also signed on for the Pledge of Kindness!

Everyone at the event signed on for the Pledge of Kindness to make a friendly Korea. Thank you all for being with us on that day. And we appreciate your continued interest and support for the TSC’s next destination!

It was a Familiarization (FAM) tour in North Chungcheong Province with the 16th University Students’ National Smile Team! From August 25th to 26th, twenty-two members of the University Students’ National Smile Team went on a FAM tour in North Chungcheong Province. This province is one of the places where you can enjoy traditional scenery with superb natural landscapes. Let's take a look at the exciting stories and scenes from the North Chungcheong FAM tour with the 16th University Students’ National Smile Team!

However, in any circumstances a loaf of bread is better than the song of many birds. We didn’t miss out on taking photos during lunch before the FAM tour! Everyone looks so excited about the overnight trip to be unfolded.

The first place we visited was the Dodamsambong Peaks and the Seongmun Gate. We watched the natural scenery of Danyang while listening to the cultural heritage commentator.

After that, we visited the Danuri Aquarium. Seeing so many colorful fish in the aquarium, we could only say “Wow.” There were all kinds of amazing things to see!

There was still something to see at night! This place is called “Suyanggae Light Tunnel.” Can you imagine that you won’t get nice pictures when taking photos here? Not only the indoor but also outdoors were so beautiful, so we just couldn’t stop taking pictures here. We probably took over 100.

The weather continued to be nice and dry on the second day. On that day, we could see the panoramic nature scenery on a cruise ship! Felt so refreshing!

Now that we’ve had a look, shall we try participating in experience programs? We visited the Hanji Experience Hall and made lamps with hanji, the traditional Korean paper. The light reflected on hanji was so delicate and calming. It would be great to use them as mood lights.

It was a short but very fruitful overnight trip! We hope that more tourists will visit North Chungcheong Province after this FAM tour and enjoy their time there just like our National Smile Team members did! Go, the 16th Team! Thank you all for participating in this FAM tour! Keep it up, North Chungcheong Province. ♥

The 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games is right around the corner! The Visit Korea Committee held a press conference introducing 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year’s ongoing programs that operate in line with the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The press conference was held in August 29 with the invitation of 14 reporters and staff from eight countries including Mongolia, Austria, and Peru. :)

The attendees were informed of the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year’s foreigner-friendly tourist programs.

These services are always open to all foreign tourists!

Amongst the services, there is the Korea Tour Card! As Korea tours are becoming ever more popular, we handed out this card to all the participants hoping they will use it when visiting Korea again.

After the presentations, we proceeded with a small quiz to refresh the mood. With prizes involved, everyone was actively participating by shouting out answers!!

At the end of the conference, a reporter from Peru interviewed Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah. She said she would put in her efforts in boosting a positive image of Korea to foreign tourists visiting here for the approaching 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games.

Following this event, the foreign reporters plan to visit Incheon City and Gangwon Province, where they will be actively promoting the charms the regions offer. We hope all of them wrap up their itinerary well and create wonderful memories in Korea before heading back. :D

Feel free to ask your questions about the Visit Korea Committee’s programs! The committee will answer to frequently asked questions! Event Period: Monday, September 4–Sunday September 10, 2017 Winner Announcement: Tuesday, September 12, 2017 Prizes: Coffee Gifticon (a mobile gift voucher) (5 persons) Amazon gift card worth $20 (30 persons in total, 5 from each language page)

- Reporters from Mongolia, Austria, Peru, and Other Overseas Media were introduced to programs focused on the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics -

Picture 1_ Conference with foreign media reporters

Picture 2_ After the conference, foreign media reporters and Visit Korea Committee staff pose for a commemorative photograph

Coupled with the business presentation on the Hands-Free Service last Wednesday, August 23rd, the Visit Korea Committee held another business presentation in Hanoi, Vietnam to spread the word about Korea’s all-in-one festivals for shopping, culture, and sightseeing and other convenient services.

With the invitation of more than 100 guests from local travel agencies and press media, we introduced a variety of benefits in the expectation of attracting more Vietnamese tourists. This year marks the 25th anniversary of South Korea–Vietnam relations, making this event all the more meaningful. Would you like to get a look inside the event?

General-Secretary Han Kyung-ah opened the event amidst the joyful atmosphere. She commented that as this event was arranged for greater exchange in tourism between Korea and Vietnam, the Visit Korea Committee would put forth a great effort to help the two countries work together for more tourists visiting each other. :D

Then, the event finally got to what everyone was waiting for—the introduction to the all-in-one festivals for shopping, culture, and sightseeing! The festivals will be a shopping-focused fusion of sightseeing and the Korean Wave that provide expansive benefits to tourists. Did you know that the festivals are held twice annually? Among them, the Korea Sale FESTA is set to begin on September 28th. I hope you enjoy all of its special perks! :D

We also introduced the Korea Tour Card, which is a foreigner-only tourist transit card, and the Hands-Free Service, which is a storage and delivery service. The Visit Korea Committee always provide great benefits and necessary services for foreigners visiting Korea.

After a delightful banquet meal, we held a raffle for the guests. One lucky lady went away with a voucher that adds a deposit of KRW 500,000 to her Korea Tour Card!  I hope she puts it to good use when she visit Korea. :)

To close the event a photo was taken of representatives from both countries. We hope this presentation gives more Vietnamese tourists the opportunity to visit Korea, and that they can take advantage of all the benefits too. The Visit Korea Committee will always welcome you with a warm smile. :)

When traveling in Korea, shopping is considered as one of the essential tourist activities.

However, you might feel burdened by the increasing purchases you have to carry on during the whole rest of your travel. Then, just use the Visit Korea Committee’s Hands-Free Service!

It will help you have a light-handed and sight-filled travel. :)

To provide a better Hands-Free Service in partnership with more companies, the Visit Korea Committee held a business presentation session about the Hands-Free Service at the Ferrum Tower in Euljiro on August 16th.

Before the presentation began, representatives from nine delivery and storage service providers introduced their businesses.

We couldn’t help but anticipate the great ideas and opinions about to be shared by those gathered together from similar yet different businesses.

We showed videos introducing the Hands-Free Service and other various campaigns and services currently carried out by the Visit Korea Committee! :)

The Hands-Free Service is a must-need for tourists visiting Korea.

The committee is said to plan to promote the service to tourists from other countries through interesting content.

The Korea Tour Card program was also presented, along with some suggestions to gain synergy by private companies’ joining the partnership for the committee’s programs, such as the Hands-Free Service and the Korea Tour Card.

The presentation was followed by a Q&A session, where many opinions were shared and possible directions were discussed.

Time flew by as we listened to the opinions of attendees from various businesses for a higher-quality service.

We all posed together for group photos and shouted “Go, Hands-Free Service!”

The Hands-Free Service will shine even brighter with more companies participating.

The Visit Korea Committee will always work hard to provide a light-handed and sight-filled travel experience for tourists visiting Korea.

- The Visit Korea Committee held a business presentation on August 23 for Korea Sale FESTA and Korea Grand Sale

- Strong local interest shown in convenience services for free independent travelers and in benefits for foreign tourists provided by the committee’s partners

Photo 1: The Visit Korea Committee held a business presentation at the Lotte Hotel Hanoi in Vietnam at 18:00 on August 23 (local time), promoting Korea’s all-in-one festivals for shopping, culture, and sightseeing. The main participants are shown taking a group photo after the event. From the right, fourth is Jung Chang-wook, director of the Korea Tourism Organization Hanoi Office, sixth is Han Kyung-ah, secretary-general of the Visit Korea Committee, and seventh is Dang Huong Giang, deputy director of the Ha Noi Department of Tourism. (Photo = Provided by Visit Korea Committee.)

Photo 2: The Visit Korea Committee held a business presentation at the Lotte Hotel Hanoi in Vietnam at 18:00 on August 23 (local time), promoting Korea’s all-in-one festivals for shopping, culture, and sightseeing. Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah is shown giving a Korea Tour Card loaded with KRW 500,000 to the participant who won the raffle.(Photo = Provided by Visit Korea Committee.)

- The committee plans on informing over 100 local Vietnamese travel agencies and media about Korea’s all-in-one festivals.

- Along with the promotion of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, the committee will introduce its services for free independent travelers—Korea Tour Card and Hands-Free Service.

- The Visit Korea Committee held a business presentation about the Hands-Free Service inviting luggage delivery/storage service providers. -

[Pic 1] The Hands-Free Service business presentation ended in success

[Pic 2] Tourists come to use the Hands-Free Service

The Visit Korea Committee participated in the NATAS Holidays 2017 in Singapore for three days from August 11th to 13th.  They had a very nice opportunity to introduce the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year campaign and its main programs, such as the Korea Tour Card—a must-have item for foreign visitors to Korea—and the Korea Sale FESTA.

The Visit Korea Committee currently offers a variety of convenient services to foreign visitors. Most of you probably know that one of them is the Korea Tour Card, which was launched this January and has sold as many as 80,000 cards so far. The committee explained diverse benefits of this card, as well as of the Korea Sale FESTA.

In another corner of the fair, an event of traditional Korean game yoot-nori was played, too! Everyone was thoroughly intrigued by this unusual game, plus the giveaways coming along!

This event was conducted both on and off line to extend the message of the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year to as many people as possible. Just by simply participating in the event you win a giveaway! Are you a frequent visitor of social media? Then visiting the page of the “2016–2018 Visit Korea Year” is a must! :D

The Hallyu Experience Zone, which was the most intriguing to foreigners, featured the booth of “Hanbok Wearing Experience” where anyone could try on the hanbok, a traditional Korean costume.

Many visitors were fascinated by the hanbok’s elegant style. If you plan to visit Korea, it is highly recommended to rent an article of hanbok and wear it when touring around the Gyeongbokgung Palace.

The committee sure did not forget to introduce the mega event to be held in Korea. Hosting the PyeongChang Special Zone, they introduced the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, a festival for the entire world to be held in the snow covered province of Gangwon-do.

The Olympic mascots, Soohorang and Bandabi, were the visitors’ absolute favorites! They provided such a great opportunity to get a glimpse at the Olympics that is less than 200 days away.

During the three days of the fair, many people could be well informed of Korea tours.  We hope that it will lead foreign visitors to enjoy a wealth of benefits when they actually visit Korea in the future. :D

On a day in July when a heat wave hit, the Mud Festival was held in Boryeong.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, this year’s festival enjoyed more than 5 million and 680 thousand visitors—the largest number ever recorded!

Now popular more among foreign tourists, it might deserve to be titled as the best festival of Korea! As it does always, the Visit Korea Committee took part in the festival!

Wherever foreign tourists crowd, the Travel Service Center (TSC) follows to provide them with convenient services! :)

The TSC worked hard there for three days! The services it provided included interpretation, free Wi-Fi access, mobile phone charging, experiencing tourist attractions in VR, and commemorative photographing, thereby receiving enthusiastic responses from the tourists. :)

As the TSC had a constant stream of visitors all day long, we felt proud with our service.

Many foreign tourists gave compliments for the TSC! Each group of visitors took a commemorative photo with the TSC in the background!

I hope the TSC keeps helping Korea make a good impression on many more foreign tourists.

The three days were full of fun! Please do look forward to seeing the TCS at its next destination!

With the energy charged from the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the K-Smile will show up at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games!

To spread hospitality culture is our greatest challenge at the moment, ahead of the two mega events that will be hosted by South Korea and Japan in turn. To arrange various promotional means to achieve this mission, on July 28, the Visit Korea Committee visited Niigata Prefecture and entered into an MOU with it for K-Smile Campaign.

Officials from Niigata Prefecture were introduced to the benefits and services provided for foreign tourists by the committee.

They were eager to listen and impressed by the welcoming campaign that conveys Koreans’ warm hospitality.

It was followed by the MOU between the committee and Niigata Prefecture!

The signing was conducted by Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah and Niigata Vice-Governor Takai Morio in a friendly mood. I’m very much looking forward to the tourist services and promotional activities that the two countries will deliver! :)

The two partners plan to expand hospitality and tourist services based on continuous mutual exchange.

Celebrating the successful conclusion of the MOU, they exchanged souvenirs: Niigata Prefecture gave dolls of Niigata’s iconic characters Toppi and Kippi and the committee dolls of Korea’s mascots Soohorang and Bandabi.

This MOU will serve as a good opportunity to invigorate tourist exchange between Korea and Japan, and accordingly Korean people’s kindness and hospitality will be spreading even wider. Please do look forward to seeing the achievements that the K-Smile will make at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games!

[Photo] After the signing, they exchange souvenirs. (Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah, left, and Niigata Vice-Governor Takai Morio, right)

On July, the scorching heat was relentless in Daegu. The Visit Korea Committee attended the 2017 Daegu Chimac Festival that was held from July 19 to 23!

The event place was crowded with people who came to appreciate “fried chicken and beer,” whose combination has now gained popularity around the world! To help these comers enjoy a more convenient event, the committee showed up with the Travel Service Center (TSC)! It was an early hour but everything had been ready to welcome visitors!

Tell us whatever you need our help with! Here are local information, interpretation, free Wi-Fi access, mobile phone charging, experiencing tourist attractions in VR, and even a photographing service for visitors!

During the event, many tourists came by the TSC where everything necessary was provided for tourists!

The TSC also held the Pledge of Kindness campaign targeted at visitors. Many visitors actively participated in the campaign despite the hot weather!

The TSC was working hard at the Daegu Chimac Festival until late at night to

provide the convenient services for tourists! I hope our efforts would be really helpful. Please do expect the TCS’s next surprise appearance someplace else! :)

Was your Monday an energetic one? Last Monday, which fell on July 24, was a very meaningful day. It was the G-200, marking the 200th day before the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. On this day, the 16th University Students’ National Smile Team attended the Hangang Summer Festival at Yeouido Hangang Park to spread the word on the K-Smile Campaign.

At the Hangang Summer Festival, the University Students’ National Smile Team not only promoted the K-Smile Campaign (gathering pledgers for the Pledge of Kindness),

but also succeeded in drawing the attention of many visitors through fun activities, including the air ball quiz. In addition to the Visit Korea Committee, various organizations participated in the Hangang Summer Festival and offered a wide range of activities such as winter sports experience, puzzle events, and handicraft making. Both locals and foreign tourists thoroughly enjoyed the festival.

The festival also featured a flash mob performance that reflected the hopes for a successful PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. A crowd of 100, including members of KT Mobile Futurist and the University Students’ National Smile Team, broke out into a well-choreographed flash mob. Aren’t you impressed by their passion?

Despite the less-than-pleasant weather, the Hangang Summer Festival was a success in celebrating the G-200 and building the anticipation towards the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. The Visit Korea Committee and the National Smile Team will continue to support the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games on G-100, G-50, and of course, D-Day. Cheers!

- Visit Korea Committee and Gangwon Province provide hospitality training for over 4,000 transport workers

Photo 1. A transport worker of Gangwon Province hangs the Pledge of Kindness card and expresses his commitment to better hospitality. To ensure the success of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, the Visit Korea Committee has launched a two-month hospitality training program under the theme of “Back to Taxis and Buses, Back to Korea” for more than 4,000 transport workers in the province.

Photo 2. A group of transport workers from Gangwon Province strike an energetic pose before the start of the training session. To ensure the success of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, the Visit Korea Committee has launched a two-month hospitality training program under the theme of “Back to Taxis and Buses, Back to Korea” for more than 4,000 transport workers in the province.

Photo 3. Eighty transport workers of Gangwon Province attended the hospitality training session at the Welfare Center in Gohan Town, Jeongseon County, Gangwon Province. To ensure the success of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, the Visit Korea Committee has launched a two-month hospitality training program under the theme of “Back to Taxis and Buses, Back to Korea” for more than 4,000 transport workers in the province.

Photo 4. - Same description as Photo 3.

The Visit Korea Committee signed a business agreement for the K-Smile campaign with Niigata Prefecture, Japan.

- The general assembly of the University Students’ National Smile Team carried out promotional activities in celebration of the G-200 countdown to the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games - - The diverse activities included a flashmob and the Pledge of Kindness, highlighting the wish for a successful Olympics -

[Photo 1] On Monday, July 24, at the Yeouido Hangang Park, the University Students’ National Smile Team runs a game event of pairing the Olympic and Paralympic sports with corresponding character images to celebrate the G-200 countdown.

[Photo 2] Set up at the Yeouido Hangang Park in celebration of the G-200 countdown, the general assembly booth of the University Students’ National Smile Team offers programs such as tattooing and fan-making for foreign tourists.

[Photo 3] More than 100 participants from the University Students’ National Smile Team and KT Mobile Futurist perform a flashmob at the Yeouido Hangang Park to celebrate the G-200 countdown.

[Photo 4] More than 100 participants from the University Students’ National Smile Team and KT Mobile Futurist cheer together for a successful Olympics at the Yeouido Hangang Park to celebrate the G-200 countdown.

The 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year campaign darting in and out of different places all over the world came up in London, United Kingdom—the nation of gentlemen!

Here, we took part in the 2017 Feel Korea in London for four days from July 6 to 9 to carry out promotional activities for this campaign.

Our booth was crowded with many visitors as soon as the event began. We explained details about various benefits available to tourists in Korea and handed out souvenirs.

As many visitors showed big interest in touring and learning about Korea, our activities were very fulfilling all the way through the event.

On the second floor of the event hall was a booth where visitors can try Korean foods and cook by themselves! This booth was so popular thanks to its offer of those Korean foods that are loved by both Korean and foreign people, such as dakgangjeong (crispy chicken nuggets) and instant noodles.

We also had a K-pop dance class for K-Pop fans in the U.K. They could learn and enjoy dances with their favorite stars! It must be more than great for those K-pop lovers!

The performance show by Korean Wave stars! It was not to be missed! The audience were completely absorbed in the fascinating performances delivered by such K-pop leaders as Highlight, EXID, and Snuper. This show had greater significance as it was preceded by displaying some promotional video clips for the Visit Korea Year campaign’s programs—Korea Tour Card, Korea Grand Sale, and K-Smile Campaign! :)

The Visit Korea Committee will continue to participate in various events at home and abroad for greater publicity to the Visit Korea Year campaign and eventually to the beautiful, tourist-friendly Korea. :)

Do you all know smile is the most basic expression of kindness? On July 4, we attended the appointment ceremony for the members of the 13th Workers’ National Smile Team at Tmark Grand Hotel Myeong-Dong. Shall we go together to see their bright smiles?

Through recommendations from local governments and related organizations and subsequent screening, 58 workers at the front line of Korean tourism have won the membership of the National Smile Team—Their fields include entry/exit and customs, transportation, accommodation, shopping, tour guiding, and the tourist police. As Korea’s most hospitable people gathered together, the atmosphere was really nice and filled with smiles. :D

Before the event, they took profile photos to celebrate their appointment! These members’ smiles make other people also feel pleasant! That’s why they deserve to be titled as members of the National Smile Team! :D

Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah granted appointment letters to 10 representing members along with a congratulatory message.

Ta-da! As a special member, Korea’s exceptionally caring singer, Eric Nam, showed up! Matching the title as a member of the National Smile Team, he is an emerging icon of kindness and consideration who acts so nice to foreign celebrities with his fluent English skills!

After appointed as an honorary member, he presented a celebrating performance. His mere appearance was enough to dazzle the audience and warmly brightened up the mood. ♡_♡ XD

Until every Korean citizen joins the National Smile Team, the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year and the National Smile Team will continue to take the lead in promoting the K-Smile Campaign! :)

- The Visit Korea Committee appointed 66 exceptional workers at points of contact with tourists as members of the National Smile Team -

- Eric Nam, an entertainer with a beautiful smile, will join in promoting Korea’s culture of kindness as an honorary member of the National Smile Team -

<Photo 1_Newly appointed Honorary Member Eric Nam, at left, and Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah, at right>

<Photo 2_Commemorative photo with the Workers’ National Smile Team, Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah, at sixth from right, and singer Eric Nam, at seventh from right>

<Photo 3_Group commemorative photo with new appointees for the Workers’ National Smile Team and Eric Nam>

<Photo 2_Korean Air plane with the emblem attached>

<Photo 3_Jeju Air plane with the emblem attached.>

- Reporters from five Asian countries introduced to programs associated with Winter Olympics -

<Photo_Commemorative photo after the conference with the foreign reporters and the committee’s staff>

The Visit Korea Committee is working hard to attract more foreign tourists during the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year!

As part of the effort, on July 3, the committee held a press conference at the Foreign Press Center Korea for foreign reporters from five Asian countries including Vietnam, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan.

The press conference began with an introduction to the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year campaign and the committee’s main programs. And this was followed by a Q&A session—the foreign reporters were eager to participate!

The reporters’ questions touched on various subjects including the effectiveness of the Visit Korea Year campaign, the role of the Visit Korea Committee, current conditions of tourist service facilities, safety issues in Korea, and conflicts between urbanization and the protection of traditions. This time was a welcome opportunity to further promote Korea. :)

After the end of the press conference, an Indonesian state TV program interviewed Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah!

 We found it touching that the Visit Korea Committee and the Visit Korea Year continue to receive positive publicity worldwide.

After the press conference, the reporters shared that they were deeply captivated by the charms of Korea! :D

A photo was taken showing everyone making hearts with their fingers.  We hope that increasing numbers of foreign tourists learn about the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year and eventually get to know Korea!

 The Visit Korea Committee will continue to take the lead to make this hope come true!

When you think of Jeju, what comes to your mind first?

Jeju Island is known for Mt. Halla, Jeju black pork, cafes with stunning ocean views, hallabong, and basalt. Above all, however, the first thing comes up to my mind is canola flowers: Jeju reminds me of canola flowers, canola flowers of yellow, and yellow of Jeju.

I guess I am not the only one with these associations. Upon hearing the news that the Yellow Fest is being held in Jeju, all of use in the Visit Korea Committee came right over to witness the festival!

This yellow tree loaded up with bottles of the vitamin drink Vita 500 and the hangover drink Ready Q first caught our attention.

These yellow-colored drinks perfectly match the Yellow Fest’s concept. The two drink makers were said to donate as many as ten thousand bottles of the drinks. How wonderful!

However, we in the committee could not be satisfied with being second to them! After considering what kind of event would most suit this great festival, the committee decided to arrange a “Pledge of Kindness” campaign because many local Koreans would come by.

Matching the campaign’s good intentions, a great number of people participated—I was so pleased that the numbers exceeded our expectations!

Jeju Namiseom CEO Kang U-hyeon was present all the way through the event and gladly helped us out by introducing visitors to the Visit Korea Committee. His enthusiasm was inspiring!

To keep up with him, we worked even harder for the campaign!

There were many things to see and enjoy at the Yellow Fest. I know that next year’s Yellow Fest will be even more successful.

Please don’t forget to invite the committee to your next event! XD

The Visit Korea Committee and the Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK) got together to make “a Korea everyone wants to visit again”! Let’s look in the memorable scene right now!

On Friday, June 30, at the Main Hall of National Central Museum in Yongsan, a launch ceremony was held for the 16th Global Promotional Delegation for Korean Culture and Tours. These proud delegates were picked out through a tough competition.

The 16th delegates number 212 in total. They gathered from all over Korea, even from such distant cities as Busan and Daegu!

Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah delivered an encouraging, supportive message for the new 16th delegates!

And it was followed by an introduction to the Visit Korea Committee and a special lecture on the due attitude of a global delegate (K-Smile, global etiquette, etc.). Their full attention to the presentations looked really great!

After lunch, they had a meaningful time touring the National Central Museum and learning values of Korean history and culture.

The delegates will be carrying out vigorous promotional activities for about two months from June to August! We hope these activities help them grow up into fully professional delegates. :D

Go the 16th!

The interest in the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games is

rising as much as the weather is getting hot! XD

On Thursday, June 29, for the upcoming Olympics, the 16th University Students’ National Smile Team participated in a show called “Let's get together! A flash mob with the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea cheering for a successful PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.”

For the performance show, about twenty members of the National Smile Team, B-boys, cheerleaders, and even Soohorang and Bandabi gathered together at the lawn in front of the Korea National Assembly Proceeding Hall, numbering as many as a hundred!

The event began with the B-boy team’s wonderful breakdancing moves. These got our friends of the University Students’ National Smile Team so excited that they were already deep in cheering before their turn came up!

One and two and three and four! *_*

The 16th University Students’ National Smile Team members were practicing so hard not to miss even a single move! They looked really good. :D

Now is the flash mob, the finale of the event!

The event ended with a success thanks to the many participants’ energetic, cheering performance! :D

They wrapped up the event with K-Smile,

cheering for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games!

Until every Korean becomes a member of the National Smile Team, the 16th University Students’ National Smile Team will keep up their good work for a successful PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games!

The 2017 Asia Model Festival “Face of Asia” was held for three days from June 22 to 24 at Jangchung Arena, Seoul!

For the event, more than 100 models from 27 Asian countries, including Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand, visited Korea.

As soon as the news broke that models with many Asian fans were to be appointed as honorary ambassadors for the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year, we ran over there right away to capture the remarkable scene vividly! XD

The event started in an enthusiastic atmosphere as Asia’s prominent models gathered together here.

Dressed up in their own nations’ traditional clothes, the models were walking down the runway. :D Korean models also appeared on the stage after a long wait, showing off the beautiful hanbok! It was very enjoyable just to watch nice-looking men and women wearing beautiful traditional clothes. :)

The fashion show was followed by the event’s highlight: the appointment ceremony for K-Friends! They are commissioned to raise awareness of Korean charms worldwide as honorary ambassadors for the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year. As it was so an important session, Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah herself granted appointment letters to them.

It is said that the newly appointed K-Friends’ promotional tasks are not limited to showing how to effectively use the Korea Tour Card, which is one of the Visit Korea Committee's most ambitious programs, but they will publicize a wider range of Korean culture, including beauty, food and health, in their own countries.

We have great expectations about how the K-Friends will from now on carry out their remarkable activities as new faces of the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year. We believe that their vigorous efforts will certainly achieve great publicity for Korea!

- The Visit Korea Committee has appointed “K-Friends,” honorary ambassadors for the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year, at final round of the Asia Model Festival.

<2017 Asia Model Festival_Commemorative photo of participating models and main guests_1>

<2017 Asia Model Festival_Commemorative photo of participating models and main guests_2>

<2017 Asia Model Festival_Appointment of K-Friends for the Visit Korea Year>

- The Visit Korea Committee appointed all members of the Gangwon Culture Tour Guides Association to National Smile Team members. -

- The committee focuses on spreading the culture of kindness throughout Gangwon Province in preparation for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. -

<Photo 1_Group photo of Gangwon Culture Tour Guides Association, “We’ll lead a successful PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics with Our Smiles”>

<Photo 2_Tour guides took a commemorative photo as new members of the National Smile Team with Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah, at sixth from left in the back row>

The Visit Korea Committee came up in Hong Kong!

For four days from June 15 to 18, the committee ran a promotional booth at the International Travel Expo Hong Kong 2017, introducing and promoting the Korea Tour Card, the Hands-Free Service, and other tourist services necessary for foreigners touring in Korea.

The event hall was filled with guests! Among others, the Visit Korea Committee’s booth was being crowded all the way with visitors who were attracted by the committee’s well-prepared events and information services.

Do you see the long lines with no end in sight? :)

The biggest draw was the gaming event of yunnori and rock-paper-scissors. A great number of visitors were fascinated by the rare chance to experience the highly entertaining Korean traditional game. :)

In addition, a B2B consulting service was offered to tourist agencies in Hong Kong about Korean tours and in particular the committee’s tourist services. We found tours in Korea drawing far more attention from Hong Kong locals than expected.

The committee’s staff members and guides worked so hard running the promotional booth for four days! Their diligent efforts have apparently made a great contribution to getting Hong Kong people much more interested in Korea! The Visit Korea Committee will never stop its efforts until Korea eventually enjoys visits from all over the world!

On a nice day of June! The National Smile Team’s member appointment and workshop took place, where culture tour guides active in Gangwon Province were enrolled as new members and tasked with promoting the city of Pyeongchang in preparation for the upcoming PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

The Visit Korea Committee called for joining its efforts in spreading the culture of kindness from culture tour guides and other local government representatives working at the county, city, and provincial levels throughout the Gangwon area.

Starting with a declaration of the opening of the event, Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah presented a welcoming address with a glad voice!

Next, Visit Korea Committee Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah and Korean Culture Tourism Guide Central Association President Min Hyang-sik awarded appointment letters and medals out of gratitude to the new members on the stage. :)

The culture tour guides smiled happily holding the appointment letters!

After the awarding, the National Smile Team members performed a flash mob in their wish for the success of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. They showed off their nice dancing skills!

As new appointees in the National Smile Team, the culture tour guides passionately participated in the event and inspired positive energy!

For a successful PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games and for a widespread culture of Korean kindness, the Gangwon culture tour guides will keep up their good work!!

How was your weekend? Did you have a good time? The Visit Korea Committee held a very meaningful event last Sunday, June 11. “Night for Korea–Japan Friendship” it was!

Hosted by the Visit Korea Committee and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korea Tourism Organization, Asiana Airline, and Lotte Hotel, the event was to welcome Secretary-General Nikai Toshihiro, an envoy dispatched by Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, and his over 350 friendly delegates.

It was also attended by around 100 Korean representatives, the attendees summing up to more than 450 prominent figures from tourism, politics, economy, local governments, and media in Korea and Japan.

Chairman Park Sam-koo, at right, and Secretary-General Nikai Toshihiro, at left, entered the room with other guests, soon filling the room full.

Friendly greetings among attendees warmed up the air before the event formally began.

So many prominent guests joined in this event to strengthen the ties between Korea and Japan that I was very impressed and excited.

The event began with a welcoming speech by Chairman Park Sam-koo. He mentioned that Korea and Japan are neighbors both physically and culturally close and that tourism may serve as a buttress to boost exchanges between the two countries.

He specifically highlighted his wish for the two countries’ close cooperation in PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games as a means of consolidating their bonds.

In his response, Secretary-General Nikai acknowledged that the two neighboring countries mean the most to each other and share many historic events in which they had helped one another and suggested that the two countries work together to build up a future-oriented relationship.

Subsequently, Secretary-General Nikai received souvenirs prepared by the PyeongChang Organizing Committee, Gangwon Province, and Korea Tourism Organization.

Head of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee Lee Hee-bum gave cushions; Governor of Gangwon Choi Mun-sun, dolls; and CEO of the Korea Tourism Organization Jung Chang-su, badges. All the gifts featured Soohorang and Bandabi, the mascots of the PyeongChang Olympics.

The photo time could never be forgotten for such an important event like this! The picture above captures guests in Korean and Japanese politics!! Although not everyone could appear in one picture as they were too large in number, thankfully all in attendance applauded and congratulated the event!

Then, a celebrating performance followed during dinner! Designed to show Korean beauties, the performance was prepared by Bidan, a fusion Korean classical music team consisting of the haeguem (fiddle), the daeguem (big fiddle), the gayageum (zither with twelve strings), the ta-ak (a set of percussion instruments), and the pansori (dramatic song). The beautiful melody echoing in the room felt refreshing everyone’s mind!

The warm welcome for the delegates went on and on even after the event was over! ^^ The committee gave farewells, wishing for the best times in Korea for the delegates.

The staff of the Visit Korea Committee worked hard preparing the event from early in the morning! The committee continues its efforts until Korean kindly smiles spread all over the world! We’ll keep up our good work!!!

On June 8th, the Visit Korea Committee held a business conference in Taiwan in an effort to make sure more foreign tourists in Korea enjoy convenient tourist services and use the Korea Tour Card.

Attendees were glad like kids while receiving souvenirs at the entrance to the conference room. They were also excited to enter their names for a prize event, definitely the most entertaining part of the conference. :P

Secretary-General Han Kyung-ah marked the beginning of the conference with an opening speech. She said the committee would further endeavor to produce ampler tour content and convenient service

The conference proceeded with detailed presentations about the benefits and services the committee offers. Among them were clips about the Korea Tour Card that facilitates the use of transportation and sightseeing in Korea and the Hands-Free Service that stores and delivers tourists’ luggage.

As much as their interest in shopping, many of the attendees gave positive responses for discount benefits.

In addition to the introduction to the Visit Korea Committee’s programs, the presentations included various offers by the Korea Tourism Organization, Asiana Airline, Air Busan, Lotte Department Store, Shinsegae Duty Free, and Hyundai Department Store.

Both the Korean presenters and Taiwanese attendees remarked that this meeting was a great opportunity to introduce and learn new, diverse information about tours and shopping in Korea.

By the end of the conference was a prize lottery drawn from the business cards that attendees had submitted when registering for the conference.

This lucky man was so delighted to win an air ticket that even I myself was jealous of him :P When you visit Korea, please make sure to use the Korea Tour Card and the Hands-Free Service!

A commemorative picture with attendees at the conference. Taiwanese account for the 4th largest number of people visiting Korea. I wish that this conference provides a chance to attract more Taiwanese tourists.

Welcome to Korea. ♥

– Visit Korea Committee successfully ended “Night for Korea–Japan Friendship” –

<Commemorative photo at the Night for Korea–Japan Friendship>

<Overview of the Night for Korea–Japan Friendship>

<Secretary-General Nikai responds at the Night for Korea–Japan Friendship>

<Chairman Park Sam-koo presents a welcoming message at the Night for Korea–Japan Friendship>

<Commemorative photo at the Night for Korea–Japan Friendship. Chairman Park Sam-koo stands at center of the front line and Secretary-General Nikai Toshihiro of Liberal Democratic Party right to Chairman Park>

It is already half-past 2017 and there is less than a year left for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games to begin!

Gangwon Province is busy preparing reception of guests for the impending Olympics.

Given this situation, the Visit Korea Committee thought it would be great to offer convenient tour services specifically for foreign visitors to Gangwon and thus held a business conference about the Korea Tour Card, the most sensational item among visitors coming to Korea.

The Gangwon Provincial Office provided us with a conference room for the conference!

It was attended by about 30 professionals who are engaged in the tourism of Gangwon Province.

The committee introduced a Gangwon edition card that is themed with the upcoming Olympics and explained that it would be sold in airports and railroad stations of Gangwon.

The attendees eagerly listened to the presentation and asked

a lot of questions about the Korea Tour Card, leading to such a quality Q&A session!

The committee also brought Korea Tour Cards and its self-made souvenirs and

gave them to the attendees at a prize event.

Each and every person named seemed

so happy like a child that the committee’s staff presenting gifts were delighted as well.

The Visit Korea Committee promises to visit every corner of

Korea until the Korea Tour Card is available not only in Gangwon but nationwide!

It was so a lovely first weekend of June (on the 3rd and 4th) with the least fine dust and a sunny weather continued.

The 16th University Students’ National Smile Team (UNST) of the Visit Korea Committee participated in the UnivExpo Seoul at the Gwanghwamun Plaza, carrying out K-Smile Campaign activities.

The UnivExpo fair is designed to provide young people with various information that helps them fully enjoy their youth.

Correspondingly, the plaza was fully occupied by countless university students, as well as lots of foreign tourists and family visitors.

The UNST’s booth was crowded with a flow of visitors from early in the morning.

Of course our 16th UNST members would never miss out on this golden opportunity!

Armed with a bright smile and kindly services, they passionately promoted the K-Smile Campaign and the Pledge of Kindness!

In front of the booth stood a wish tree.

The participants in the Pledge of Kindness hung their own commitment notes on the tree one after another, the tree soon getting full of leaves.

So did our proud 16th UNST conclude the two days of short yet successful promotion!

We expect to see their remarkable activities continue at next event! :D

We attended the Korea World Travel Fair 2017 held at COEX from June 1 to 4!

The Visit Korea Committee also took part in this event by operating the Tourist Service Center to seize the great chance of promoting Korea.

Ta-da! This is the wheeled Tourist Service Center that the Visit Korea Committee operated for 4 days. It got love from so many visitors.

Inside the truck, various services attracted visitors—interpretation, experiencing tourist attractions in virtual reality, tourist information, and even mobile phone chargers and free Wi-Fi access!

  The hottest was the VR program, which took the players into  Korea’s famous tourist spots and gave them a ride on amusement toys!

Many foreign visitors were joyful enjoying visits to Jeju Island, Gyeongbok Palace, and Myeong-dong without bothering to actually go there.

There was a K-Smile Pledge of Kindness in front of the Tourist Service Center that the pledgers would give heartwarming Korean smiles to more foreign tourists by taking the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year as a momentum.

It was very touching that so many people willingly participated in this pledge!

These foreign visitors expressed their satisfaction with the useful services and experiences they enjoyed at the Tourist Service Center. This is a commemorative shot taken to be posted in a photo guest book! The many visits and fervent responses felt very rewarding to us at the Korea World Travel Fair 2017!

The Visit Korea Committee will join in wherever the Tourist Service Center is needed!

- Around 70 travel agencies and some local media companies informed about Korea’s all-in-one festivals for shopping, culture, and tours

- Taiwanese enthused by the Korea Tour Card, an integrated card for transportation and tours exclusively available to foreign tourists