Culture Ministry, KTO unveil Hallyu-themed tours

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization are looking to woo Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern tourists with new Hallyu-themed tour packages.

“Despite the rising popularity of Korean content, some travel destinations have not been promoted properly due to their low accessibility and intellectual property rights. We have been discussing such issues and have assisted local travel agencies and content creators to sign a memorandum of understanding for greater travel experiences that can satisfy passionate Hallyu fans,” the ministry’s latest press release said.

“The new tourism products will be heavily promoted in Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates, who have all been big Korean culture fans,” it added.

A total of seven Korean content-themed tours will be offered to tourists from these locations, including four day-trip programs in Seoul and its suburbs, two one-night trips to Busan or Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, and a three-day trip to Gangwon Province.

Those who are interested either in K-pop or dance will be able to enjoy the day-trip programs to their fullest, as the programs feature a K-pop dance class with “Street Woman Fighter” (2021) dancers, and opportunities to make a K-pop dance cover video, explore a dance audition booth and experience street dance culture in Seoul’s vibrant Hongdae neighborhood.

“Street Woman Fighter” is a popular dance competition show in Korea.

The one-night trip to Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, offers holidaymakers a chance to explore some of the restricted areas of the Samyang Roundhill farm and taste local delicacies.

The three-day trip to Gangwon Province and Busan includes a range of programs to experience the regions. The tour includes a visit to the “BTS In The Soop” estate in Pyeongchang, where RM spent time reading his book on beanbag chairs and V played his trumpet. Tourists can also explore different areas of Gangneung and Pyeongchang, like Hyangho Beach -- a filming location for BTS’ music videos -- on the first two days of the tour, and spend the last day of the trip at popular travel spots in Busan.

Other tours offer a chance to visit the filming spots of popular Korean dramas, including “Crash Landing on You” (2019), “Castaway Diva” (2023) and “Marry My Husband” (2024).

Detailed dates for the Korean content-themed tours are yet to be announced