KTO Capitalizes
on Hallyu to Attract
Foreign Tourists

The 'All-Star Together'promotion likely to bring in 20,000 inbound arrivals

Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) is striving to develop tourist products related to Hallyu, or the Korean Wave to attract more foreign inbound tourists and boost sightseeing tours among Koreans.
KTO is putting more energy into exploring culture and tourism products related to Hallyu, expanding infrastructure facilities, and attracting foreign and domestic investments into the tourism industry. To this end, KTO has designated the period between October and December as the "Months of Hallyu"that showcases "All-Star Together,"fan meetings with Hallyu stars and an international conference to attract foreign capital.
The Months of Hallyu promotion series is one of the biggest events that have been held in Korea, the birthplace of the Korean Wave.
The Hallyu promotion series started with "Bain World Tour Showcase 2006 held at the Seoul Olympic Main Stadium. The event, which attracted about 1,500 Japanese and 500 Chinese and others from Southeast Asia, was the first performance by KTO ambassador publicity Rain, the MOCIE said.
one of the top Hallyu singers, on his fourth album and his announcement of the start of the 2006-2007 world tour.
The "Birth of the Prince,"the 2006 world fan meeting with Hallyu star Rhu Si-won, held at Children Grand Park in Seoul and Yongin Speedway between October 15 and 16, drew about 1,500 Japanese and 500 Chinese and others from Southeast Asian countries. Audiences watched Korea GT Championship, one of Korea's biggest car racing events, on October 15 and a fan meeting on October 16.
The "It's Time For …."event, held at the Seoul Olympic Gymnastics Stadium on November 18-19, was a fan meeting with Hallyu star Song Seung-hun, who had just been discharged from military duty.
The "Star Express" to be held at KINTEX in Goyang, north of Seoul, will feature Seoul Song Festival (Dec. 1), and Hallyu Drama Festival (Dec. 3). About 4,000 foreign audiences are expected to participate in the event.
The "2006 Korea in Motion, to be held December 6-11 at Seoul's Gwangjang-dong AX Hall as a part of a promotion for Hallyu,
will show off such Korea's favorite performances like "Marionette" 'Nanta' 'Jump' 'The Code,' 'Love Dance' and 'Lee Eun Gyeol Magic Show' which will attract an international crowd, cultural performance planners, and media personnel with high quality shows as well. It is expected that more than 3,000 foreign visitors including various media personnel and cultural performance planners from Japan, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and more, will come to Korea to participate in this event.
This event will begin with a performance of 'Jump'which recorded a fully booked show in Edinburgh, followed by 'The Marionette,'a world leading B-Boy break dancing team. The event also features the musical 'Love Dance' and a 'Nanta'performance, which has already had more than one million foreign audience members. Also, 'Lee Eun Gyeol Magic Show'will be performing, one of the world's top magic shows. All performances will be shown in one place, and 70% of the seats to "2006 Korea in Motion"are being sold to foreign visitors from Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, among other companies.
In addition, promotional booths about the performances will be set up for foreign visitors, cultural performance planners, and media personnel who would like to know more information or have inquiries about this event.
The 'Rain World Tour'is the fist leg of "2006/2007 Rain World Tour"slated for December 15, 8 p.m. and December 16, 7 p.m. at the Seoul Olympic Gymnastics Stadium. About 2,000 foreigners, including 1,500 Japanese, are expected to attend the event. Rain is to embark on a project to tour 12 countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China, for 36 performances for five months. For more information and reservations, log on www.sinawa.com or call on (02)-595-2535.
KTO President Kim Jong-min said it is noteworthy that "All-Star Together"is the beginning of a comprehensive publicity marketing strategy designed to cover all Hallyu products, create Korea's own brand based on Hallyu and boost foreign tourists'demands on Hallyu. He noted that the Hallyu event series is expected to bring in an estimated 20,000 foreign tourists.
Figures released by KTO showed that the number of foreign tourist arrivals is estimated at 6.021 million during 2005, a 3.5 percent rise over 2004, while Koreans on overseas tours surged 14.2 from a year earlier to 10.07 million during 2005, shattering the 10 million mark for the fist time in history of Korean tourism. nw

KTO President Kim Jong-min

Hallyu singer 'Rain'