Translation result.
[Herald Economy (Gyeongju) = Kim Byung-jin] The Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Corporation unveiled a fresh TGIF Gyeongbuk strategy at the POST‑APEC Tourism Revitalization Meeting on April 9 in its main conference hall — and it’s launching bold, region-by-region marketing to match.
Acting Governor Hwang Myung-seok joined tourism directors and department heads from 22 cities and counties to share APEC summit takeaways and map out plans for a successful Gyeongbuk Visit Year 2026.
Under the slogan “Head to Gyeongbuk on Friday,” the Corporation introduced a four-theme, stay-focused tourism model designed to extend visitors’ time and experiences in the region.
TGIF — Trekking, Gourmet, Island, Farmstay — is built around modern lifestyle trends like flexible schedules and workations, and it’s the backbone of this year’s targeted marketing push.
The Corporation is continuing last year’s Baekdudaegan Trail 6 Challenge, tapping the mountain range’s forest resources. Launched last October across six events, it drew 1,235 participants and strong public interest.
By blending the Baekdudaegan’s natural scenery with the Joseon-era “gugok” (nine-bend) traditions of scholar-statesmen, they’ll brand an Inmun Sansu — a cultural-landscape trekking trail unique to Gyeongbuk.
They’ll also develop the Gyeongbuk 12 Loop Trails linked to local village platforms, host familiarization tours to promote them, and publish a guidebook.
On the culinary front, “Jongga Dining” will reimagine heirloom recipes from ancestral households in Andong and beyond, pairing intimate tea conversations with family matriarchs and hands-on recipe-archive experiences.
Culinary outreach will expand with M.E.T.I. (Monthly Eat Travel Initiative), a campaign spotlighting seasonal dishes each month, and a “Taste Road by Train” program that connects regional flavors by rail.
The Corporation has also named Gyeongbuk’s Top 10 Underwater Scenic Spots — from Dokdo to Uljin’s Wangdolcho — and will develop them as dive-friendly attractions so underwater explorers can experience the province’s marine beauty firsthand.
With Ulleung Airport on the horizon in 2028, they’re polishing signature routes like the Ulleung Nari Old Trail and beefing up “islandcation” packages that let visitors work remotely and unwind, giving tourists richer ways to savor island and sea life.
They’re designing emotion-driven stays — think Gyeongbuk-style rural staycations in hanoks and farmhouses, plus residential-style “rice-gazing” and “field-gazing” retreats — to deepen overnight experiences.
A regional tourism belt linking neighboring cities and provinces will position rural areas as places to linger and cities as places to play. Playful packages like a Friday after-work “Farm Party” are aimed at keeping a steady flow of working residents visiting and staying.
“TGIF isn’t just a catchy line,” Kim Nam-il, president of the Corporation, said. “It’s a practical blueprint to weave Gyeongbuk tourism into people’s everyday lives. We’ll keep rolling out experiences that highlight Gyeongbuk’s one-of-a-kind charm.”
Most Commented