"Waves Upon Waves, Something Different: May Marine Tourism Campaign Kicks Off"

Ministry Launches "May Is the Month to Go to the Sea" Campaign
From Gourmet Journeys with Jung Hoyoung and Kim Seongwoon
to Specialized Programs in Taean, Gunsan, and Uljin

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on April 20 that it will launch the "May Is the Month to Go to the Sea" marine tourism activation campaign throughout May, in cooperation with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Tourism Organization. This campaign is a special initiative under the "2026 Spring for Travel" program and focuses on promoting extended-stay tourism in coastal regions.

Official poster for "May is the Month to Go to the Sea." Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

This year's campaign slogan is "Waves Upon Waves, Something Different." The Ministry explained that it has expanded the "Month to Go to the Sea" campaign, which was first introduced last year, and strengthened benefits for longer stays so that people can experience both the sea and local attractions together.

The main program is "Chef's Seafood Table," a one-night, two-day event. Chef Jung Hoyoung will lead the program on the east coast from May 9 to 10, while Chef Kim Seongwoon will host it on the west coast from May 30 to 31. Participants will enjoy local fish market tours, seasonal seafood dinners, and visits to popular breakfast spots in the region. Each session will select 25 participants.

In addition, 32 specialized programs will be offered across coastal areas nationwide. These include a pet-friendly program in Taean, an island walking tour in Gunsan, and a beach concert in Uljin, covering leisure, wellness, and gourmet experiences. There will also be historical and marine tours in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongju; local culture programs in Tongyeong and Geoje; and running and gourmet programs on Biyangdo in Jeju.

Discount benefits are also available. The Ministry stated that, starting April 15, it is offering discounts of up to 30,000 won on accommodations in coastal regions and up to 50,000 won for stays of two nights or more, along with discounted prices for marine leisure experiences and tourism package products.

Kang Jeongwon, policy chief of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, "We want to continuously discover unique content that can only be enjoyed at the sea and change the image of the sea—from beaches visited just in the summer to a destination people always want to visit."

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