2024 Second Half 'Year of Visit Korea' Commemorative Event Held in Jeju

Jang Miran, 2nd Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Actress Jin Seoyeon Attend
Held at Jeju Airport and Handam Beach Coffee Shops
Until the 11th of Next Month... Foreign Language Guidance Services Also Available

On the afternoon of the 26th, at a coffee specialty store on Handam Beach in Jeju, during the Foreigners Welcome Week event, Jung Yoon-jo, Executive Director of Starbucks Korea (from the right), Jang Mi-ran, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Lee Hak-joo, Head of International Tourism at the Korea Tourism Organization, and foreign tourists participated in a seedling planting ceremony using coffee grounds.
[Photo by Park Chang-won, Honam Reporting Headquarters]

The hospitality event for foreign visitors to Jeju Island, commemorating the second half of 2024 as the ‘Year of Visit Korea,’ was held on the 26th at Jeju International Airport and a coffee specialty shop at Jeju Handam Beach. The event was attended by Jang Mi-ran, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Lee Boo-jin, Chairperson of the Visit Korea Year Committee, and others.

The foreign tourist welcome week runs from that day until the 11th of next month. As the number of foreign tourists visiting Jeju rapidly recovers to pre-COVID-19 levels, the Year of Visit Korea commemorative event was organized in Jeju.

At the opening ceremony held at Jeju International Airport, Jang Mi-ran, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Lee Boo-jin, Chairperson of the Visit Korea Year Committee, Heo Joo-hee, Head of Glocal Business Division at Korea Airports Corporation, and Kim Bok-geun, Director of Jeju Airport, attended to celebrate the successful opening of the welcome week.

Additionally, actress Jin Seo-yeon, who resides in Jeju, participated as a special guest, recommending that many domestic and foreign visitors enjoy Jeju’s beautiful nature. Hotel Shilla provided welcome gifts featuring Jeju’s local ingredients such as baeknyeoncho (prickly pear), matcha, and hallabong (Jeju citrus) cookies along with organic milk, showcasing the flavors of Jeju. Various other events were also held.

During the welcome week, foreign tourists visiting Jeju can have special experiences through the Moods (Museum Goods) Gallery and a large Ban-gasa-yu statue photo zone, and receive tourist information services in English, Chinese, and Japanese.

Following this, the foreign visitor welcome event continued at a coffee specialty shop located at Jeju Handam Beach in Aewol, a sunset spot popular among foreigners.

About 100 foreign visitors who came to the store participated in a seedling planting ceremony using coffee grounds, attended by Vice Minister Jang Mi-ran, Lee Hak-joo, Head of International Tourism Division at Korea Tourism Organization, and Jung Yoon-jo, Executive Director of Starbucks Korea.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced plans to expand support policies for Jeju, which attracts many foreigners, by promoting the construction of the Jeju MICE multipurpose complex facility within the Jungmun Tourist Complex by next year, capable of hosting international conferences and events. They also plan to support the promotion of Jeju as a cruise tourism port of call.

Vice Minister Jang Mi-ran, who attended the event, emphasized, "We will provide diverse support including cruise tourism, local festivals, food, and wellness. We will also expand support for MICE facilities to ensure comprehensive assistance in many areas."