(News) Explore Busan with Ease: Introducing the Visit Busan Pass for Foreign Tourists

 Busan, the second-largest city in South Korea, is a popular destination for tourists from around the world. Known for its stunning beaches, cultural landmarks, and delicious cuisine, Busan has something for everyone. And now, exploring the city has become even more convenient with the launch of the Visit Busan Pass.

http://www.visitbusanpass.com

Exclusively available to foreigners, the Visit Busan Pass offers an all-in-one solution for exploring the city's top tourist attractions, restaurants, shopping destinations, and more. With just one pass, you can access more than 30 paid tourist facilities in Busan, including museums, theme parks, and historical landmarks. In addition, the pass provides discounts at over 50 restaurants, shopping destinations, and other tourist facilities.

But the Visit Busan Pass isn't just a convenient way to explore the city - it's also a beautiful souvenir in its own right. The physical card features the stunning characteristics of Busan, making it a great way to remember your trip long after you've returned home.

One of the biggest advantages of the Visit Busan Pass is the free use of the City Tour Bus and prepaid use of the subway. This means that you can easily travel around the city without worrying about transportation costs. In addition, the pass provides free access to 30 affiliated tourist attractions and additional promotions at other tourist destinations and restaurants.

Using the Visit Busan Pass is easy. The pass is activated from the moment you enter your first attraction. For example, if you visit your first attraction at 9 am on January 1 with the 24-hour Visit Busan Pass, you can enjoy free access until 8:59 am on January 2. Each attraction can be visited once, allowing you to see as many sights as possible during your stay in Busan.

Overall, the Visit Busan Pass is an excellent way to experience all that Busan has to offer. With its convenience, affordability, and beautiful design, it's a must-have for any foreign traveler visiting the city. So grab your pass, hop on the City Tour Bus, and get ready to explore the best that Busan has to offer.

(News) 11th Edition of the Global Hanbok Model Contest: Showcasing the Beauty of Korean Culture.

 The World Culture Association based in Seoul has announced the 11th edition of the annual Hanbok Model Contest, which will be held across major cities in Korea and France from April to August.

The competition will take place in 11 cities in Korea, including Seoul, Incheon, Busan, Gwangju, Daegu, Ulsan, Daejeon, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do Province, and Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do Province. The contest is open to all women who were born before 2010 and reside in Korea, regardless of their nationality.

Founded in 2017, the Hanbok Model Contest is a unique platform for showcasing the beauty and elegance of traditional Korean clothing, known as Hanbok. 

The competition has been held in countries like France and Thailand to promote Hanbok to a global audience under the theme "Anyone in the World Can be a Hanbok Model."

This year, the Global Hanbok Model Contest will be held in Paris from May to August. Women aged 19 or older who live in France can participate in the competition, regardless of their nationality.

The Hanbok Model Contest is a great opportunity for women to showcase their beauty and grace while promoting the rich cultural heritage of Korea. 

If you're interested in participating or just want to admire the stunning Hanbok, be sure to mark your calendar for this annual event.

[News] Experience the Best of Korean Culture at the 2023 ITB Berlin: Korean Travel Companies Participate in Promoting K-Culture and Visit Korea Year 2023-2024

Korean travel companies are gearing up for the 2023 ITB Berlin (Internationale Tourismus Börse), one of the world's largest tourism exhibitions, which attracts approximately 10,000 companies from over 180 countries across six continents. The Korea Tourism Organization is planning to showcase high-quality K-Culture at the event, with 24 companies, including local travel agencies, local government, and RTO, participating in promoting traditional Korean culture (such as hanbok, Korean food, and hanok) as well as pop culture (such as K-Pop and K-Drama).

The Korea Tourism Promotional Hall, which will be situated in the Asia Section Hall at 242 square meters in size, will be designed with lines and colors of hanbok with the motif of “traditional Korean patterns,” emphasizing the Visit Korea Year 2023-2024. The promotional hall will feature an interactive screen zone, traditional culture experience event zone, Korea tourism sales promotion zone, and more.

In promoting "Visit Korea Year 2023-2024," the booth will highlight various K-Culture tourism contents, such as 100 K-Culture events and 2030 Busan Expo related culture, arts, sports, games, architecture, and more. Visitors will be able to participate in traditional Korean activities like a tea ceremony, hanbok wearing experience, and Korean calligraphy. A motion-sensor VR interactive game featuring a Korean version of "Green Light, Red Light," made popular from the hit series "Squid Game" (2021), will also be available.

Moreover, a large screen in the booth will be playing promotional videos, including "Feel the Rhythm of Korea" as well as K-Drama and reality show filming location tours. With a focus on spreading K-Culture to a wider audience, the Korea Tourism Promotional Hall will be a fantastic opportunity for event-goers to experience the vibrant and diverse culture of Korea.

Resuming short-term visit visa issuance: Starting February 11, 2023

Starting on February 11, 2023, the Korean government has announced the reissuance of short-term visit visas with COVID-19 testing requirements still in place. However, the testing mandate is expected to end sooner than previously anticipated.

Until the end of February, all visitors entering South Korea from China, Hong Kong, and Macau must undergo COVID-19 testing prior to their arrival. This includes either a COVID-19 PCR test taken within 48 hours of departure or a rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours of departure, with a negative result required. 

COVID-19 Test requirement for China, Hong Kong and Macau (until late-February): Visitors must have a negative test result from COVID-19 PCR Test taken within 48 hours of departure or a rapid antigen test (RAT) within 24 hours of departure. And also must receive a COVID-19 PCR Test within one day of entry.

Additionally, these visitors must take another COVID-19 PCR test within one day of entering South Korea. This requirement applies to anyone who has stayed in or visited China within the past 7 days before coming to South Korea. Short-term visitors from China must take a PCR test immediately upon arrival and await the results in a designated waiting area. 

Returning South Korean citizens and long-term stay visitors entering from China must take the test within one day of entry and await the results at their residence.

In the event of a positive test result, short-term visitors will be accommodated at temporary housing facilities located in different cities and provinces. 

Those who test positive upon arrival at the airport will be housed at temporary quarantine facilities.

2023 Visit Korea Year 100 K-Culture-Tourism Event

 The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization have jointly unveiled the "100 K-Culture-Tourism Event" as part of the 2023-2024 Visit Korea Year, an ongoing celebration of Korean culture that offers tourists a chance to immerse themselves in a diverse range of events and festivals throughout the year.

This exciting initiative will provide visitors with a taste of Korea's rich cultural heritage, artistic expression, natural beauty, and more, showcasing the country's captivating charm through a range of cultural, artistic, sporting, and tourist events.

With the success of movies like "Parasite" and the continued global popularity of K-pop, the 100 K-Culture-Tourism Event promises to cement Korea's reputation as a top cultural tourism destination.

To promote the event to a global audience, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization are planning a range of on- and offline promotional activities, including onsite travel promotions, collaborations with local travel agencies, and marketing efforts through the overseas branches of the Korea Tourism Organization.

Details about the "100 K-Culture-Tourism Event" will be available soon on VISITKOREA's Visit Korea Year 2023-2024 special page.

List of main events

•  (Hallyu) INK Concert, Gangnam Festival, Jarasum International Jazz Festival, etc.
•  (Cultural Art) Busan International Film Festival, FRIEZE & Kiaf SEOUL, Gwangju Biennale, Welcome Daehakro, Gwangju Fringe Festival, etc.
•  (Sports) Asia-Pacific Masters Game 2023 Jeonbuk Korea, Busan 2024 World Table Tennis Championships, Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympic Games, etc.
•  (Nature) Suncheonman International Garden Expo, Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Marathon, Jinhae Gunhangjae Festival, Seogwipo Canola Flower International Walking Festival, DMZ RUN, Ulju 9 Peaks Stage Race, etc.
•  (Contents) G-STAR, LoL World Championship