[News Terms] 'Runcation' Bringing Korean Students to the US and Europe Student Groups

Classified as Learning Holiday, Education, Gap Year, etc.
"Korea Rapidly Emerging as a Destination for Generation Z from the US and Europe"

'Learncation' is a newly coined term combining 'Learning' and 'Vacation.' It refers to the concept where learning and vacation coexist, meaning 'educational tourism' or 'educational travel.'

This new travel trend has emerged as preferences for experiential travel, such as local cultural experiences, have increased, along with the need for content that adds meaning to family trips with children or extends travel stays for leisurely senior travelers.

Domestic and foreign nationals are mingling together at an event hosted by a local government in Korea.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Depending on whether the focus is on learning or relaxation, and the purpose of the trip, it can be classified in various ways. For adults who can take about 1 to 2 weeks off, combining hobbies (interests) and travel with an emphasis on relaxation rather than learning is called 'Learning Holidays.'

With the rising demand for high-cost travel among those aged 50 and above, vacations focused on learning local culture, history, and traditions for children aged 5 to 12 and their guardians are referred to as 'Edu-Vacations.'

Additionally, trips to a country for children aged 8 and above to acquire and improve specific language skills are called 'Language Travel.' For middle, high school, and university students traveling with the goal of gaining new experiences and knowledge on various topics, it is called 'Edu-Tourism.' There is also the 'Gap Year,' which refers to taking about a year before entering university or after graduation to recharge through different experiences.

According to the Korea Tourism Organization on the 6th, the organization has been developing and promoting products with educational travel agencies through its North American branch and conducting roadshows targeting major universities on the East and West coasts of the U.S. The Tourism Organization is focusing on attracting groups ranging from middle and high school study tours to gap year students and university students, noting that student groups visiting Korea tend to stay longer and spend more than general tourists.

As a result, last month, two middle schools, including South Bronx Academy in New York, visited Korea, and from the 9th to the 18th, the Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra will visit Korea. Major universities and middle and high school student groups from the Americas, such as Yale University and Central Washington University, are also visiting Korea, with about 1,500 visitors expected by July.

The Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra, visiting Korea on the 9th, is the oldest classical music club in North America, founded in 1808. Approximately 120 Harvard undergraduate students from various majors participate. They will visit major tourist sites in Seoul such as Gyeongbokgung Palace and Ikseon-dong, and experience various aspects of Korean culture, including temple food at Jingwansa Temple and making Jeonju bibimbap. On the 12th, they will perform jointly with Ewha Womans University’s orchestra club 'Esayos.'

Baek Ji-hye, head of the Gumi Oceania Team at the Korea Tourism Organization, said, "Recently, Korea has rapidly emerged as an educational travel destination for Generation Z student groups from long-distance markets such as the U.S. and Europe." She added, "This year, in collaboration with the International Student Identity Card Association, we are conducting a campaign to issue student cards (also usable as transportation cards) commemorating the '2023-2024 Visit Korea Year,' actively attracting Generation Z visitors from the Americas."

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