Conveying the Charm of Korean Tourism Worldwide through the Metaverse

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 7th that it will hold the Korean Tourism Metaverse Concert 'K-VIBE FESTA' in collaboration with the Korea Tourism Organization to restore the travel sentiment of potential overseas tourists visiting Korea.

The concert, which will be broadcast live online via YouTube and the Zepeto application at 6 p.m. on the 8th, will feature a variety of events including DJ performances, dance shows, K-pop concerts, Korean tourism talk shows, and messages for the global youth. Broadcaster Hyunmo Ahn and Anupam Tripathi, who played the role of ‘Ali’ in the drama 'Squid Game,' will host the event.

The concert will kick off with a performance by DJ Raiden to energize the audience, followed by a congratulatory video from Minister Hwang Hee of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Next, the dance team ‘Lachica,’ stars of the recently popular show 'Street Woman Fighter,' will perform, and the webtoon 'True Beauty' creator 'Yaongi' will present beauty videos to captivate young female viewers. K-pop group NIK and performers such as Wonstein and MAMISON, who sang the Jeonju and Mokpo versions of this year’s Korean tourism overseas promotion campaign ‘Feel The Rhythm of Korea,’ as well as the legendary ‘Brave Girls,’ known for their comeback on music charts, will also perform, meeting with Hallyu fans.

In the second part, the latest smart technologies will be applied to enhance the immersion of online audiences. Using extended reality (XR) technology, attractive domestic tourist spots will be recreated, offering a unique experience as if Hallyu stars like aespa, SHINee’s Key, and BoA are performing directly at the tourist sites. In particular, Hallyu stars including SHINee’s Key will introduce Korean tourist destinations and hidden travel spots they want to visit through a ‘talk show,’ showcasing Korea’s diverse charms.

Additionally, to prepare for the resumption of international tourism after COVID-19, virtual travel experiences will be provided to increase foreign visitors’ interest in visiting Korea and promote a positive image of Korean tourism.

The representative Korean tourist destination Gyeongju has been reborn as an extended virtual world ‘map’ linked with the Zepeto application. Especially, cultural heritages from the thousand-year-old Silla period, such as Hwangridan-gil and Cheomseongdae, have been vividly recreated, allowing audiences to enjoy Korea’s traditional beauty with their virtual avatars. Moreover, by experiencing traditional games or hanbok inspired by the popularity of 'Squid Game' and posting proof on social networking services (SNS), visitors can receive exchange vouchers usable at actual local stores like ‘Hwangnam Bakery’ when visiting Korea.

A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official said, “Thanks to the popularity of Korean pop culture such as 'Squid Game' and BTS, we have prepared an online event that anyone can participate in without physical restrictions,” adding, “We hope this event will widely promote ‘Korea as a country you want to travel to’ and become a new turning point to overcome the COVID-19 crisis.”