K-wave AI News

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story.

More than 2.7 million people visited the National Museum of Korea in the first half of this year, marking the highest turnout since it was relocated to Yongsan in 2005. The museum says the total number of visitors from January to June represents a whopping 64% increase compared to the same period last year. The number of foreign visitors also set a new record, reaching around 97,000, surpassing last year's figure and continuing an upward trend.

In preparation for the APEC Summit set to be held in Gyeongju this October, Korea will expand its mobile QR payment system to 20,000 locations to enhance shopping convenience for foreign tourists. The rollout will be focused on key regional destinations, including Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, where the APEC Summit host city is located, and nearby southern cities of Daegu and Busan. The QR system, based on Korea's ZeroPay platform, is interoperable with 21 overseas mobile payment services, including Taiwan's PXPay and Malaysia's Touch 'n Go. Please note that a special promotion offering a 20% discount for users of Alipay, WeChat Pay, and UnionPay will run through December 31.

The Korea Railroad Corporation has launched a new travel package combining discounted rail fares with rural tourism experiences to boost regional tourism. The program offers 50% off train tickets, along with a rural tour pass priced at 17,900 won, which gives travelers 24-hour access to major tourist attractions and various hands-on activities. The package is available through December and covers Gimje and Iksan in the Jeolla region, as well as Mungyeong, Yeongju, and Andong in the Gyeongsang region. Additional packages covering the Gangwon and Chungcheong regions will be rolled out next month. For more information, visit KORAIL's official website www.korail.com or the mobile app KORAIL Talk.

That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.