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Songho Beach in South Jeolla Province / Korea Times file
The Korean government is launching a “half-price travel” initiative that reimburses half of travelers’ expenses when they visit designated rural regions facing population decline.
Starting in April, visitors to 16 selected localities will receive 50 percent of their travel costs back in the form of mobile regional gift certificates. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recently announced that, together with the Korea Tourism Organization, it has chosen 16 local governments to participate in a pilot travel project, running from April to June.
The selected areas are PyeongChang, Yeongwol and Hoengseong in Gangwon Province; Jecheon in North Chungcheong; Gochang in North Jeolla; Gangjin, Yeonggwang, Haenam, Goheung, Wando and Yeongam in South Jeolla; and Miryang, Hadong, Hapcheon, Geochang and Namhae in South Gyeongsang.
Any Korean citizen aged 18 or older can apply in advance by submitting a travel plan to a participating municipality. After completing the trip, travelers may claim reimbursement by providing receipts and proof of expenditure.
Upon approval, half of the verified costs will be refunded in the form of the local mobile gift certificate — up to 100,000 won per person or 200,000 won for groups of two or more. The refunded vouchers must be used before the end of this year at local partner shops or online marketplaces selling regional specialties.
With a total budget of 6.5 billion won, the program will run after each municipality completes preparatory measures. Specific details such as application schedules, proof requirements, and use methods may differ by location, so participants are advised to check the Korea Tour website (visitkorea.or.kr) or each local government’s website for guidance.
The ministry plans to expand the scheme later this year by adding four more local governments and, based on pilot results, gradually broaden participation nationwide from next year onward.
“This initiative aims to refine successful local models that can spread across the country. We hope it will breathe new life into regions struggling with depopulation, while offering citizens an affordable and rewarding travel experience through close collaboration with local governments,” Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young said.