If You Go Here, You Can Get Discounts Like a Local Resident

Digital Tourist Resident Card Operation Areas More Than Doubled
Discounts Also Available for KTX Products Stopping at Twelve Nearby Stations

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization announced on the 27th that they will more than double the operational areas for the 'Digital Tourist Resident Card' service starting next month.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Digital Tourist Resident Card is a type of honorary resident card issued to areas facing the crisis of local extinction. By offering various travel discount benefits, the number of issued cards surpassed 700,000 in just over two years.

As of this month, the service operational areas include fifteen locations: Pyeongchang and Jeongseon in Gangwon, Okcheon, Damyang, and Jecheon in Chungbuk, Taean in Chungnam, Ganghwa in Incheon, Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi, Gochang and Namwon in Jeonbuk, Sinan in Jeonnam, Goryeong in Gyeongbuk, Geochang and Hadong in Gyeongnam, and Yeongdo in Busan. Starting next month, nineteen more locations will be added: Samcheok, Yangyang, Yeongwol, Taebaek, and Hongcheon in Gangwon; Goesan and Yeongdong in Chungbuk; Yesan in Chungnam; Gapyeong in Gyeonggi; Muju and Imsil in Jeonbuk; Yeonggwang, Jangheung, and Haenam in Jeonnam; Andong, Yeongdeok, and Yeongju in Gyeongbuk; Hapcheon in Gyeongnam; and Seo-gu in Busan.

The benefits provided by tourist facilities and businesses will also expand from about 300 to 800 locations. A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official explained, "Program participation fees and accommodation fees are discounted to the level of local residents." For example, Gapyeong Gapyeong Bridge Zipline and Imsil Cheese Theme Park offer 20% and 10% discounts on experience fees, respectively. Yeongdong Illite Hotel also offers a 30% discount on accommodation fees. Detailed information can be found on the Korea Tourism Organization’s official website and mobile application.

To promote activation, the Ministry and the Tourism Organization will also provide discounts on high-speed rail (KTX) fares in cooperation with Korail starting next month. If you use KTX products that stop at twelve stations near the Digital Tourist Resident Card operational areas during specific hours (9 PM to 7 AM), you will receive a 35% discount. A Ministry official stated, "If you use the designated train and present the Tourist Resident Card for verification, an additional 20,000 KRW KTX discount coupon will be provided."

For systematic operation, a regular consultative body will be formed with local governments and tourism industry stakeholders. At the first meeting next month, local governments and businesses with outstanding achievements will be awarded, and best practices will be shared. Additionally, the main business directions for this year will be discussed, and various opinions will be collected and reflected in future plans.

Park Jong-taek, Director of Tourism Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, "We hope the Digital Tourist Resident Card will lead not only to regional tourism but also to the revitalization of local economies," adding, "We will establish it as a representative project that revitalizes regions through abundant events, various benefits, and promotional marketing."