Seeking the Next K-Goods to Follow the Joseon Royal Wine Stopper and Dancheong Keyboard

Tourism Organization Accepts Souvenir Entries Until May 28
25 Winners Including President's Award to Be Selected
Winners to Receive Support for Sales Channels and Consulting

The Korea Tourism Organization is seeking tourism souvenirs that capture the charm of Korea and its regions.

Main Visual for the South Korea Tourism Contest Souvenir Category. Korea Tourism Organization

The Korea Tourism Organization announced on May 11 that it will host the souvenir category of the “2026 Korea Tourism Contest” under the slogan “K-Goods, Reaching the World” from May 11 to May 28.

The contest is open to souvenirs themed on Korea’s and local regions’ history, culture, and nature. Entries are accepted in two categories: the “General Category,” featuring the attractions of Korea, and the “Local Specialty Category,” reflecting regional characteristics. Both businesses and corporations are eligible to participate.

A total of 25 awards will be given, including the President’s Award and the Prime Minister’s Award. The President’s Award winner will receive a prize of 10 million won, and each Prime Minister’s Award winner will receive 4 million won.

This year, the focus is on discovering globally competitive tourism souvenirs. The number of “Global Popularity Awards,” selected by foreign voters, will be expanded from one to three, and a new “Lotte Duty Free CEO Award” has been established.

Winning companies will also receive follow-up support, including one-on-one consulting, business training, support for distribution channel connections, and eligibility to apply for tourism fund loans.

Last year, Mimi Design’s “Joseon Royal Wine Stopper,” which won both the President’s Award and the Global Popularity Award, became popular at major on- and offline retailers such as the National Museum of Korea. The “Dancheong Keyboard” by Siidot, which won the Korea Tourism Organization President’s Award in 2024, was sold out and later reimagined as keycap keyrings in collaboration with Hyundai Department Store.

Han Sangmi, CEO of Mimi Design, said, “After winning the contest, our monthly sales jumped fivefold compared to usual, and our annual sales grew about three times year-on-year.”

Min Byungseon, Head of the Tourism Industry Division at the Korea Tourism Organization, stated, “Despite their outstanding ideas and high quality, many souvenir companies and artists struggle to find effective marketing methods or sales channels. We hope that this contest, now in its 29th year, will serve as a stepping stone for them to reach the world. We will continue to discover excellent, globally competitive souvenirs to increase satisfaction among domestic and international tourists and strengthen practical support for expanding sales channels.”

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