Seoul Tourism Organization is delighted to announce the successful culmination of the “2023 Seoul Theme Tourism County Contest,” which has resulted in the selection of five autonomous districts: Gangnam-gu, Gangbuk-gu, Songpa-gu, Jongno-gu, and Jung-gu.
This highly-anticipated contest, took place from 1st June to 30th June 2023, aimed to address evolving domestic and international tourism trends while dispersing the concentration of tourists in specific areas. It sought to unearth unique theme tourism content for each autonomous district, focusing on aspects such as natural environments, history, and more, with the goal of nurturing local tourism endeavours and providing comprehensive support for project execution and promotion.
The contest’s panel of experts meticulously evaluated the submissions based on various criteria, including competitiveness, originality, feasibility, and long-term expectations for each theme tourism content. The assessment process encompassed a two-phase evaluation, comprising proposal evaluation (1st round) and question-and-answer evaluation (2nd round).
The selected districts and their captivating theme tourism initiatives are as follows:
Gangnam-gu
“Uneeg Tour” – A K-Culture-themed tour offering monthly themed experiential content and small-scale storytelling tourism in Gangnam.
Gangbuk-gu
“Playground Gangbuk Hanryang” – Inspired by Gangbuk-gu’s historical role as a playground for Hanryang during the Joseon Dynasty, this project aims to promote Seoul-specific healing tourism by harnessing various mountain resources in Uigugok.
Songpa-gu
“Citycation County” – Combining the words “City” and “Vacation,” this project seeks to provide year-round urban leisure, including cultural and artistic programs within Songpa-gu, featuring Olympic Park and Seokchon Lake.
Jongno-gu
“Hanbam’s Sunra Catching” – Centered around Sunra-gil, adjacent to Jongmyo, this initiative reinterprets the storytelling of Sunra County during the Joseon Dynasty. It aims to uncover new night time tourism resources while revitalizing the stagnant jewellery industry.
Jung-gu
“Myeongdong Stripe Food X Pub Festival” – Held in the heart of tourism, Myeongdong, this street festival collaborates with diverse street foods and distinctive Korean craft beers to stimulate the local economy by boosting sales for small and medium-sized food businesses.
For the selected districts, Seoul Tourism Organization will provide crucial support, including project funding, domestic and international promotional assistance, and familiarisation tours utilising each autonomous district’s theme tourism content for media outlets and the tourism industry.
Rediscover Seoul through an immersive journey into the updated, exclusive editorial coverage of the five selected districts, offering a fresh perspective on the city through Seoul’s Hidden Gems.