[K-wave] Ministry of Tourism announces "Top 100 Korean Tourism Attractions"

So, as we just mentioned the upcoming Lunar New Year holidays has been extended to 6 days

While some have already made plans to travel abroad, the government has made special efforts to enhance DOMESTIC tourism over this period.

The 'top 100 tourist attractions of Korea' is not only a must-visit list for foreigners, but also a guide for locals.

Lee Eun-jin has the details.

During the Lunar New Year holiday, there will be various tourist events for people to enjoy while visiting their hometowns.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in cooperation with the Korea Tourism Organization, will select the top 100 tourist attractions of Korea for 2025-to-2026.

Marking its seventh edition, the biennial list has picked and publicized the nation's top tourist hotspots since 2012.

The entries include 61 cultural tourism resources such as historical sites, architecture, interactive and leisure facilities and 39 natural and ecotourism resources such as forests, beaches and wetlands.

The locations are spread out nationwide. By region, there are 22 in the greater Seoul metropolitan area, 11 in the Gangwon area, 15 in the Chungcheong area, 18 in the Jeolla area, 28 in the Gyeongsang area, and 6 on Jeju.

The designated areas include experience-oriented locations that feature fun things enjoyed by Koreans in daily life, like eating noodles at the Hangang River, visiting the pop-up stores in Seongsu, and shopping at the Sokcho Tourist and Fisheries Market.

There are also destinations that reflect the trend of travel for healing, including Gyodongdo Island in Incheon where "Squid Game" was filmed and the Jeongdongsimgok Badabuchae Trail, or the Jeongdongjin Marine Terrace Trail that features a unique topography resembling the "tip of a fan", where visitors can take in mesmerizing ocean scenery.

On the list of 100 destinations, there are 14 places that have been selected for the 7th consecutive time since the start of this project in 2012.

Deeply rooted in representing Korea, these locations include the Five Royal Palaces in Seoul, the Jeonju Hanok Village, Hallasan National Park, the trails of Jeju Olle-gil, and historical temples like Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto.

With the government's recent decision to add Monday, January 27th, as a holiday, the Lunar New Year holiday will last 6 days.

In line with the government's goal to increase domestic travel, a "traveler's passport" of stamp tours will be launched, where visitors can fill their stamp passports as they travel to the 100 destinations.

At the end of the year, the Tourism Ministry plans to award a prize to those that have visited the most locations.

Additionally, various events for the whole family will be available at various museums.

The National Folk Museum of Korea will hold special cultural experiences and exhibitions, while the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art will offer free access to its special exhibitions,

and various performances will be held at the National Gugak Center, the National Theater of Korea, and the Asia Culture Center.

Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.