Meet the first foreigner to visit all 76 Korean heritage sites in just two months

While most of us are still planning that "someday" trip, one Turkish traveler has already stamped her way through all 76 Korean heritage sites in just two months.

Park Hyo-been has her story.

While most Koreans have barely scratched the surface of the country's rich heritage, one foreign traveler has gone the distance—visiting all 76 cultural treasures from Ganghwa Dolmen Sites to the Museongseowon Confucian Academy in Jeongeup city.

Ayse, a Korean language teacher from Türkiye, began her journey in April at Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, and wrapped it up in just two months.

When asked to name her favorite site, she said it was impossible to choose just one.

"I think you really have to break it down into categories. If we're talking about the most photogenic place? Definitely Pocheon Art Valley. But if I had to pick somewhere that felt both very Korean and somehow exotic, I'd say Naksansa Temple. And when I went to Hahoe Village in Andong I was honestly speechless."

She also said the driving force to visit all the key Korean heritage sites was the stamps.

The stamp is at the heart of the Korean Heritage Passport Tour, where participants receive a special "passport" and collect stamps at 76 designated sites across 10 themed routes.

"My husband first told me about the program. But the moment I got my very first stamp, I was like—wow, this feels amazing. There was this powerful sense of achievement that made me want to keep going. And I guess another reason was I wanted to be the Turkish person who knows Korea best."

The Korean Heritage Passport Tour is part of the Visit Korean Heritage Campaign, launched in 2020 by the Korea Heritage Agency and the Korea Heritage Service.

It is an immersive program designed to promote the beauty and value of Korea's national heritage.

Since its official launch in May 2023, nearly 400 people have completed the full tour so far.

"We deliberately included lesser-known sites outside the Seoul metropolitan area. Since last year, interest has remained strong. So far, we've received around 260,000 applications, and we expect that number to hit 400,000 by the end of this year."

As for Ayse, her Korean journey is far from over — in fact, it's only just begun.

"I'll travel Korea until the day I die, seriously. I'll keep going until there's not a single step in Korea I haven't walked. Right now, I'm planning to visit all the cities I haven't been to yet, or the ones I passed through too quickly. That's my goal for the next year."

Her journey may have started with stamps, but it continues with a deep love for Korea — one step, one city, one story at a time.

Park Hyo-been, Arirang News.