How Mokpo is Empowering Vulnerable Tourists: Join the 2026 Travel Support Initiative!

On March 17, Mokpo City in South Jeolla Province announced plans to hold a public hearing about how the crematorium at Mokpo Memorial Park should be operated — and it has launched a call for proposals for travel packages under the 2026 “Happy Travel Activity Support” program.

The city opened submissions for travel packages as part of the 2026 South Jeolla initiative to support travel for tourism-vulnerable groups.

The program is designed to protect basic tourism rights and energize the local travel industry by supporting travel opportunities for people with disabilities, low-income residents, and other groups who face barriers to travel.

The call for proposals runs through March 30 and is open to travel agencies based in Mokpo that are registered operators and have business-guarantee insurance as of the announcement date.

If there aren’t enough participating agencies in the city, the city plans to widen eligibility to include travel agencies across South Jeolla Province.

Eligible packages must be one-day trips for tourism-vulnerable groups and should, at minimum, provide two meals (lunch and dinner), include at least one paid hands-on experience, and cover travelers with insurance.

Through a screening process, the city will select five travel agencies to operate a total of 10 travel packages. Selected agencies will run tailored programs specifically for people with disabilities and low-income residents.

The city will subsidize day-trip costs up to 180,000 KRW per person (approximately $135). For travelers with limited mobility, the subsidy can also cover one accompanying companion to ensure safer, more convenient participation.

After the call for proposals, the city will recruit participants from tourism-vulnerable groups starting in April, match them with travel packages, and run the programs from April through November.

“We will continue to develop tailored tourism products so vulnerable residents can recharge through travel and enjoy a variety of experiences,” said Park In-ji, head of Mokpo City’s Tourism Division. “We encourage local travel agencies to take part and show strong interest.”

Mokpo City will also hold a public hearing on the Study on the Operating Method of the Mokpo Memorial Park Crematorium at 3:00 p.m. on March 20 in the multipurpose auditorium of the Kim Dae-jung Nobel Peace Prize Memorial Hall.

The hearing will present the main findings and direction of the ongoing study to residents and collect a range of opinions on how the crematorium should be run.

The study aims to design an operating system suited to Mokpo and to identify an optimal model that balances public interest and operational efficiency.

Because the crematorium is a public facility closely tied to residents’ daily lives, the city says it will fully reflect public input during the decision-making process and develop objective, reasonable plans based on feedback from the hearing.

Mokpo City plans to incorporate the hearing’s input into the study to boost the crematorium’s operational efficiency and improve resident satisfaction.