The Southern coast of South Gyeongsang Province (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
CHANGWON, May 16 (Korea Bizwire) – South Gyeongsang Province in South Korea has announced that nearly 100 foreigners have applied for its ‘Travel South Gyeongsang for a Month’ program, according to a statement released on May 15.
The provincial government said it has been accepting applications from domestic residents, foreigners, and overseas Koreans since April for the month-long travel experience.
Within just over a month, 94 applicants from seven countries, including the United States, Canada, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Egypt, and South Africa, have expressed interest in the program.
Provincial officials attribute the strong international response to the positive image of South Korea cultivated by the global popularity of K-dramas and other cultural exports.
Last year, when the ‘Travel South Gyeongsang for a Month’ program was offered exclusively to overseas Koreans, it received a lacklustre response, with only six applications.
Reenactment of a royal wedding at the Gimhae Gaya History Park (Image courtesy of Gimhae City)
In an effort to broaden its appeal, this year’s iteration has expanded eligibility to include foreigners alongside overseas Koreans. The province also prepared promotional materials in English, Japanese, and Chinese, which were distributed to 34 Korean cultural centers abroad in March.
Interested parties can apply for the program by emailing the designated contact listed in the promotional materials. Foreign applicants who provide proof of lodging in South Korea for five nights or more are eligible for accommodation subsidies of up to 50,000 won per person per day from the provincial government.
Additionally, separate from the accommodation support, the province offers experience vouchers for various tourist attractions – 70,000 won for stays under seven days, and 100,000 won for longer visits.
The Jinhae Gunhang Festival (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Participating foreign travelers are required to share their experiences visiting Gyeongsang’s attractions on their personal social media accounts.
With the overwhelmingly positive response from international applicants, South Gyeongsang Province is considering allocating additional funds through a supplementary budget to accommodate the high demand for its ‘Travel South Gyeongsang for a Month’ program.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
