On the 24th, Suwon City in South Korea declared the years 2026-2027 as the ‘Year of Visiting Suwon’ aiming to attract 15 million visitors annually. Mayor Lee Jae-jun announced this at the proclamation ceremony held at the Suwon Convention Center, emphasizing the city’s ambition to leap towards becoming a globally recognized cultural tourist destination. He characterized the declaration as a heartfelt commitment to share Suwon’s value with the world and highlighted the city’s capabilities, particularly in leading K-content and supporting a potential influx of 20 million tourists from abroad.

The campaign is notably timed to celebrate the 230th anniversary of the construction of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress in 2026 and the 30th anniversary of its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2027. Under the slogan ‘Suwon, a Tourism City for You,’ the city aims to revive itself as a global tourist hub attracting 15 million visitors per year. To achieve this, it has laid out five strategic initiatives focusing on enhancing tourist content, implementing mega projects to increase visitor inflow, organizing customized events, improving tourist accommodation facilities, and developing new tourism products. Emphasis will be placed on leveraging K-culture through experiences related to drama filming locations and promoting traditional hanok villages.

The proclamation event further featured a 'sympathy talk' segment by Lee and Huh Woo-ryeong, a visually impaired broadcaster, underscoring the city's commitment to creating an inclusive tourism environment. Lee also pledged to pay close attention to details to ensure everyone can enjoy the city comfortably. Additionally, congratulatory videos from mayors of Suwon’s sister cities in nine countries including the US, Japan, and Germany were screened, enhancing the event's international significance and showcasing Suwon's global networking efforts.