Korea Tourism Organization Attracts About 1,000 Japanese Tourists to "Haman Nakhwa Nori Special Day"

The Korea Tourism Organization announced on the 17th that it held the "Haman Fireworks Special Day" on the 16th in the area around Mujinjeong in Haman County, Gyeongsangnam-do, with the participation of over 1,000 Japanese tourists.

The organization organized this event to vitalize local tourism by turning "Nakhwa Nori," a traditional Korean fireworks display, into a regionally specialized tourism product.

Haman Fireworks Special Day [Photo by Korea Tourism Organization]

On this day, Japanese tourists visiting Haman purchased a Korea travel package that included the "limited edition Nakhwa Nori" experience. The Korea Tourism Organization’s branches in Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka, together with 32 Japanese travel agencies, launched and promoted this product, successfully attracting more than 1,000 visitors from across Japan. Last year, the organization invited major Japanese travel agencies to assess the potential for developing Haman Nakhwa Nori as a tourism product, and subsequently operated a pilot program for about 400 people.

The Japanese tourists enjoyed the traditional fireworks display, which dates back to the Joseon Dynasty, accompanied by explanations in Japanese, as well as Nakhwa Nori and Korean traditional music performances. The venue also featured a variety of hands-on activities, including trying on Gaya hanbok, writing wish notes, and writing names in Hangeul. There were also food zones where visitors could taste Korean traditional foods and Nakhwaju.

Hamahira, a Japanese tourist, said, "I have visited Seoul many times, but this is my first time visiting a local city in Korea. The traditional Korean fireworks display is mysterious and uniquely charming-I think I will never forget it."

Kim Jonghun, Director of International Marketing at the Korea Tourism Organization, stated, "By August this year, the number of Japanese tourists visiting Korea reached 2.3 million, a 15% increase compared to the same period last year, and about 47% of Japanese tourists have visited Korea four or more times, showing a high level of loyalty. However, most of these visits are concentrated in Seoul and the metropolitan area. In order to encourage regional travel, it is essential to offer new attractions, so the Korea Tourism Organization will continue to discover and develop tourism content that captures the unique characteristics of each region."