Mungyeong City Hosts Special Lecture by Gil Kiyeon, CEO of Seoul Tourism Foundation

'Regionally Specialized Tourism as a Growth Engine for Revitalizing the Local Economy'

On May 15, Mungyeong City in Gyeongbuk held a special lecture for public officials at the City Hall's main conference room, inviting Gil Kiyeon, CEO of the Seoul Tourism Foundation, to speak on the topic of "Domestic and International Cases of Leading the Economy through Regionally Specialized Tourism."

Special Lecture by Gil Kiyeon, CEO of Seoul Tourism Foundation, Invited by Mungyeong City Hall, Gyeongbuk

During the lecture, Gil Kiyeon emphasized that "specialized tourism strategies based on the unique culture and resources of a region serve not only to promote tourism but also as a key growth engine driving the local economy."

Gil introduced several flagship initiatives led by the Seoul Tourism Foundation, including the 2024 Seoul Lantern Festival, the Gwanghwamun Market, and the operation of the tethered gas balloon 'Seoul Dal,' sharing examples of how tourism has strengthened both the identity and economy of the city.

He also mentioned major international examples such as Bilbao in Spain, Nantes in France, and Hakone in Japan, and suggested the possibility of a Seoul-Mungyeong cooperation model that leverages Mungyeong's local characteristics and resources.

He added, "Tourism strategies that highlight regional characteristics are a powerful alternative to overcome population decline and the risk of regional extinction," and stressed that "Mungyeong must also secure its urban competitiveness through tourism policies based on its unique resources."

Shin Hyunkook, Mayor of Mungyeong, said, "I would like to thank Gil Kiyeon for visiting Mungyeong and delivering such a meaningful lecture despite his busy schedule," and added, "We will further develop tourism policies that utilize our region's unique content to revitalize the local economy."