S. Korea launches annual winter shopping festival to attract foreign tourists
SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea kicked off its annual winter shopping festival Wednesday, a 45-day nationwide event aimed at drawing foreign tourists and boosting spending during the tourism off-season.
The Korea Grand Sale, running through Feb. 28, features discounts across flights, accommodations, and retail sectors, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Visit Korea Committee. A record 1,680 South Korean retailers and service providers are participating in this year's festival.
Ten South Korean airlines, including Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, are offering up to 94 percent discounts on 214 flight routes to South Korean cities during the festival. Additionally, foreign airlines in collaboration with Trip.com and Konest will provide up to 31 percent off flights to South Korea from China, Hong Kong and Japan.
Hotel deals include discounts of up to 19 percent at participating properties, like Ibis Styles Ambassador and Mayfield Hotel.
Major department stores -- Lotte, Shinsegae, Hyundai and Galleria -- along with duty-free shops and outlets, are hosting special promotions. Visitors may receive vouchers and incentives valued at up to 1 million won ($684) depending on purchase amounts at select locations, including Seoul and Busan.
Musinsa Standard is offering a 10 percent discount at 19 stores nationwide, while Olive Young provides 20 percent discount coupons for purchases over 150,000 won at five stores in the Myeongdong shopping district.
The festival also showcases Korean culture with 17 hands-on experiences spanning K-pop, Korean cuisine, cosmetics, heritage sites, and regional attractions. Highlights include tours of a Nongshim ramen factory, a fashion modeling class with a leading agency, and traditional accessory-making workshops at Seoul's Bukchon Hanok Village.
In Gangwon Province, tourists can join programs at soju distilleries and the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival.
Tourists can also take part in taekwondo and skiing experiences in Muju, located 161 kilometers south of Seoul.
Welcoming centers will be set up in major shopping districts frequented by foreign visitors, including Myeongdong, Hongdae, Seongsu and Gangnam, during the festival.
"We hope many foreign tourists visiting Korea during this year's Korea Grand Sale festival can enjoy both the substantial discounts and the diverse charm of Korean culture," Yu In-chon, minister of culture, sports and tourism, said in a release.
sshim@yna.co.kr
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