How 6 Cities on Korea’s East Coast are Teaming Up for Unforgettable Travel Experiences

Translation result [Herald Economy — Reporter Ham Young-hoon] On May 5, the East Coast Mutual Development Council, based in Sokcho, announced a fresh joint tourism marketing push to drive shared growth across its six member cities and counties.

After a March working meeting on tourism marketing, the municipalities strengthened their cooperation to attract both domestic and international visitors and have started rolling out detailed action plans.

The coastal route from Goseong in the north down to Samcheok in the south—nicknamed the “Romantic Road”—offers views, food, and leisure experiences that can rival a Mediterranean getaway.

To showcase the “East Coast Tourism Belt,” the six municipalities, including Sokcho, will lean into partnerships with global YouTube creators.

They plan to team up with influential creators who have solid overseas followings to produce and distribute a single, integrated promotional video covering all six destinations.

Taking inspiration from the Korea Tourism Organization’s viral hit “Feel the Rhythm of Korea,” they’ll also create separate 30-second Shorts that highlight each city or county. Those clips will be posted at the same time on both municipal official accounts and the creators’ channels to maximize visibility.

They’ll also collaborate with webtoon artists to create themed content based on East Coast attractions and promote it across Instagram and other social platforms.

By using webtoons—a format that’s instantly familiar to younger, digital-native audiences—officials aim to spark interest in local spots and encourage organic sharing, boosting online awareness of the East Coast tourism area.