Feb 25 β€’ 10:51 UTC πŸ‡°πŸ‡· Korea Hankyoreh (KR)

President Yoon: K-Culture Must Lead to Tourism in South Korea

President Yoon emphasized the need for K-Culture to contribute to the growth of tourism in South Korea and introduced measures to eliminate overpricing in the tourism sector.

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 25th that the development of the K-Culture industry should ultimately result in boosting 'tourism in South Korea.' He expressed his commitment to ensuring that the excitement surrounding K-Culture transcends digital screens, advocating for international tourists to experience South Korea firsthand. To facilitate this growth, the government plans to implement stricter legal measures against the overpricing practices criticized for diminishing the country's tourism appeal.

During a state tourism strategy meeting at the Blue House, the President underlined the necessity for the tourism industry to expand beyond mere quantitative growth and transition toward qualitative growth by the year 2030. He expressed a goal of attracting 30 million international tourists, implying that the explosive energy of K-Culture should lead to real economic benefits such as job creation and community growth. This meeting marks President Yoon's first attendance at such a strategy meeting in seven years, highlighting the government's renewed focus on revitalizing the tourism sector.

Echoing the President's sentiments, Deputy Prime Minister Kyoo Hyun-chul announced specific plans to tackle the issue of overpricing, a significant detriment to the tourist experience. He indicated that any restaurant or accommodation that unfairly cancels reservations would face immediate suspension of operations, alongside efforts to impose pricing caps during peak seasons. The announcement came in response to a surge in accommodation prices near Busan following recent BTS concert announcements, which led to complaints of egregious price hikes. The Deputy Prime Minister assured that stringent penalties would be enforced on establishments that exploit tourists, reinforcing the government's determination to establish fair practices in the industry.

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