Korea launches ‘Delicious Travel’ drive to promote Korean food

The Korea Tourism Organization has announced its latest campaign for the fall season, highlighting must-eats from each of the country’s diverse provinces.

“Food is one of the key things to look forward to when traveling,” said Kim Young-ho, executive vice president for tourism competitiveness at the KTO. “When Japanese tourists come to Korea, one of the first things they talk about is not the shopping, it’s the food.”

Tourism officials of the KTO have compiled a wide range of programs, courses and travel recommendations that highlight each area’s most popular and sought-after dishes. The two-month “Delicious Travel” campaign, which began on Oct. 15 and will be held through Dec. 15, is intended not only to assist tourists in their meal-conscience travels, but also to encourage travelers to experience Korea’s food culture beyond the bounds of Seoul.

Stretched across 16 regions, Korea has around 200 different food roads. Some of the recommended destinations include the five “Food Themed Roads” that consist of Seoul’s Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Road; the Gangneung Chodang Tofu Road; the Namwon Chueotang Road; the Daegu Anjirang Gopchang Road; and the Busan Gwangan Minrak-dong Sashimi Road.

Other recommended food travel itineraries include exploring Korea’s regional food via the Korea Railroad Corporation’s recently established V, O and S sightseeing trains as well as a wide range of day trips and overnight food adventure courses specifically designed to emphasize a region’s food culture. More information on the Delicious Travel program is available at food.visitkorea.or.kr.

Along with the ongoing Delicious Travel campaign, the KTO will also be hosting a two-day 2013 Ara Lock Fall Bike Festival: Cycle for Hope starting Oct. 26. The foreigner-friendly bike festival is geared at encouraging international participation in the charitable event, which will donate 500 won per kilometer biked per participant to a number of charity organizations including Oak Tree Project, an orphan scholarship fund, and Hope Be Restored, an organization working to eradicate human trafficking.

The event is expected to draw around 700 participants including 200 visitors from abroad, 300 expatriates as well as around 200 Koreans. Ticket prices for riders range from 20,000 won to 40,000 won. For more information, visit www.bikefestival.or.kr.

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)