14 Items Including Seolhwa Detective Augmented Reality
Seolhwa Detective Augmented Reality (AR), the grand prize winner at the 2022 Korea Tourism Souvenir Contest. Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with the Korea Tourism Organization, announced on the 28th that they have conducted the ‘2022 Korea Tourism Souvenir Contest’ and selected a total of 14 award-winning works, including the grand prize (Presidential Award) winner, the book series ‘Seolhwa Detective Augmented Reality (AR).’
This year’s contest, under the slogan ‘Korea, Giving the Gift of Travel,’ selected a total of 14 award-winning works through judging by a panel composed of experts and general consumers: one Presidential Award, two Prime Minister Awards, three Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Awards, four Korea Tourism Organization President Awards, and four Sponsor Institution Head Awards.
The grand prize winner, ‘Seolhwa Detective Augmented Reality (AR),’ is a book series that presents local legends such as Jeju’s Seolmundae Halmeoni, place names of Yeongwol, and the Namhangang waterway in Chungju in an easy-to-understand and entertaining way through engaging characters, stories, and augmented reality (AR) services. The judging panel praised it as a souvenir that balances regional characteristics and commercial viability.
The Prime Minister Awards went to ▲‘Potato Amusement Park Popa Chips,’ a brand created using imperfect potatoes discarded due to lack of commercial value, grown in Gangneung and Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, and ▲‘Freeze-Dried Pollack Treat,’ a healthy snack for companion dogs made using seafood from the East Sea, reflecting the recent trend of traveling with pets.
The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Awards were given to ▲‘Jeju Buckwheat Cookies,’ cookies shaped like a millstone made from Jeju buckwheat and packaged with recyclable traditional Korean design patterns, ▲‘Jeonju Sotdae Jar Diffuser,’ shaped like a sotdae and jar made by a traditional craftsman from Jeonju, and ▲‘Nunnori Jeju,’ a Yutnori board game containing stories about Jeju’s culture, nature, and exploration tourist sites.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will support the distribution channels of the selected tourism souvenirs by providing expert consultations and connecting collaborations with private companies to strengthen their competitiveness. Notably, for the first time this year, the ‘2022 Korea Tourism Souvenir Expo’ will be held from December 2 to 3 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). The expo will host this year’s contest award ceremony and exhibit and sell excellent tourism souvenirs representing various regions nationwide, including past award-winning works.
A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official said, “We expect that discovering tourism souvenirs utilizing local history, culture, and nature, and supporting the development of souvenir distribution channels will widely promote the charm of each region and further activate regional tourism.”
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