Actor Lee Jung-jae Selected as a 'Star of Korean Tourism'

Korea Tourism Organization '2023 Korea Tourism Stars' Awards Ceremony

Actor Lee Jung-jae was selected as a 'Star of Korean Tourism.'

On the 13th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization held the '2023 Korean Tourism Stars Awards Ceremony' at the Yongsan Dragon City Hotel in Seoul.

The awards recognized eight tourist destinations, organizations, and contributors: ▲Tourist Destination of the Year - Gyeongju Daereungwon & Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond ▲Barrier-Free Tourist Destination - Pyeongchang Balwangsan Millennium Yew Forest Trail ▲New Tourist Destination - Pohang Space Walk ▲Sustainable Tourism Program - Imsil Cheese Theme Park ▲Tourism Institution/Business of the Year - Gangjin Cultural Tourism Foundation ▲Tourism Brand & Marketing - Play, Walk, Live, Busan ▲Broadcast Media - Dongne Hanbawi ▲Tourism Development Contributor - actor Lee Jung-jae.

The 'Star of Korean Tourism' program, which began in 2010 and is now in its 13th year, selects and awards winners through evaluation of candidates recommended by the public, local governments, and experts in various categories.

Gyeongju Daereungwon, selected as the Tourist Destination of the Year, is a large burial mound complex with 30 tombs. It is the central area of Silla’s thousand-year history, attracting an average of 40,000 visitors daily. Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, located a 10-minute walk away, are the sites of the Silla royal palace’s secondary palace, showcasing the pinnacle of landscape art and becoming even more beautiful at night.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism explained, "Gyeongju Daereungwon was recognized for continuously attracting domestic and international tourists by adding night views to its original beautiful charm, earning the highest honor of 'Tourist Destination of the Year' as a Star of Korean Tourism."

Selected as a barrier-free tourist destination, the 'Balwangsan Millennium Yew Forest Trail' at the summit of Balwangsan Mountain in Pyeongchang offers visitors the spiritual energy of thousand-year-old yew trees and views of sunrises and sunsets. It is notable for its consideration of vulnerable tourists, featuring a gentle 2.4 km deck trail and a tourist cable car that provide convenience for people with disabilities, infants, and the elderly to comfortably reach the mountain summit.

Pohang Space Walk offers a 360-degree panoramic view from the scenic Yeongil Bay coast to the night view of POSCO. Resembling a roller coaster, this experiential steel track was completed in November 2021. It highlights the regional characteristics of Pohang, a steel city, and presents a new charm where steel and sea light coexist, earning it the title of 'New Tourist Destination.'

The Gangjin Cultural Tourism Foundation was selected as the 'Tourism Institution/Business of the Year.' It was highly praised for planning and implementing diverse and differentiated projects with local residents. It operates traditional outdoor plays involving local residents, educates and trains them, and leads the production and operation of tourism content driven by the community, conveying history and hidden stories at major historic sites in Gangjin County.

Imsil Cheese Theme Park offers various programs that all generations can enjoy together, such as cheese and pizza experiences, set in a European-style exotic landscape. It leverages the region’s identity as Korea’s first cheese production area and contributes to sustainable tourism development by hosting seasonal festivals throughout the year.

'Play, Walk, Live, Busan' expresses the new brand of 'a city to enjoy, work, and live in, Busan.' It effectively promotes Busan as an international tourist city where all experiences from travel to business are satisfying, winning in the 'Tourism Brand & Marketing' category.

Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) program 'Dongne Hanbawi' travels through neighborhoods across South Korea, portraying local traditional shops, landmarks, hidden stories, and the warm lives of the people living there with an analog sensibility.

Actor Lee Jung-jae appeared in the 'K-Tourism Challenge Korea' video as the ambassador for the '2023-2024 Visit Korea Year,' achieving a cumulative view count of 530 million. He was recognized for significantly contributing to promoting Korean tourism worldwide.

At the event, Vice Minister Jang Mi-ran said, "Achieving 20 million foreign visitors in 2024 is a challenging goal, but I believe it is possible with those honored today. We will open a new era of regional tourism through local tourist destinations and programs nurtured by the dedication of local residents and various stakeholders, and strive to attract even more people from around the world."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.