Held in Taipei, Taiwan for Four Days Starting May 23... Over 120 Korean Organizations Participated
Mayor Seo Gangseok of Songpa District Visits the Expo in Person... Showcasing Songpa as the Center of Korean Tourism
Focused Promotion of 'Songpa-Style Tourism Content' Including Seokchon Lake, The Gallery Hosu, and The Sphere
Songpa District in Seoul (District Mayor Seo Gangseok) announced on May 26 that it had successfully completed its global promotional activities at the 1st Korea Travel Expo, which was held at the Taiwan World Trade Center over four days from May 23 to 26.
This expo was hosted by the Korea Travel Expo Organizing Committee and organized by the Korea Exhibition Industry Institute, with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. It was especially significant because Korea took the lead in planning the entire exhibition. Various Korean tourism-related organizations and facilities, including local governments and travel agencies, participated to showcase the diversity and appeal of Korean tourism to the local Taiwanese audience.
In particular, the expo was held simultaneously with the Taipei International Travel Fair (TTE), the largest travel fair in Taiwan, attracting hundreds of thousands of prospective tourists and receiving an enthusiastic response.
On the opening day, May 23, Seo Gangseok, Mayor of Songpa District, visited the expo in person. After attending the opening ceremony, Mayor Seo introduced Songpa's mascot, "Hahaha Hoho," at the district's promotional booth and distributed promotional materials to highlight the district's attractions.
Mayor Seo stated, "Songpa District is a place where culture, shopping, and nature coexist in Korea, and it has the most balanced tourism resources in Seoul. I am delighted to have the opportunity to introduce Songpa's unique sensibility and charm directly to the people of Taiwan."
Songpa District operated its own promotional booth to showcase its tourism resources. The district focused on introducing Songpa-style tourism content such as Seokchon Lake, Lotte World Tower, Songridan-gil, the district art museum 'The Gallery Hosu,' and the advanced media art facility 'The Sphere,' which drew significant interest from local visitors.
Additionally, Songpa offered participatory programs targeting the local MZ generation, including Hanseong Baekje costume experiences, a voting event for must-visit Songpa tourist destinations, and a Songpa quiz show, which increased visitors' time spent at the booth.
Taiwan is a major market, ranking third in 2024 with approximately 1.47 million Taiwanese tourists visiting Korea. In fact, during the five days of the "Lake Cherry Blossom Festival" held by Songpa District this spring (April 2 to April 6), 30,433 Taiwanese nationals visited the Seokchon Lake area, ranking second among all international visitors.
Last month, Songpa's Jamsil Tourism Special Zone ranked first among eight tourism special zones in the "Seoul Tourism Special Zone Evaluation." The district secured 120 million won in city funding to accelerate tourism revitalization projects.
Songpa District plans to use its participation in this expo as an opportunity to promote customized tourism content for foreigners, provide guidance on tourism courses around Seokchon Lake, and establish collaborative channels with major Taiwanese travel agencies, further developing Songpa-style tourism products.
Seo Gangseok, Mayor of Songpa District, said, "Songpa, where culture, nature, and art harmoniously blend, is a competitive destination for global tourists. We will continue to actively target the Asian tourism market, including Taiwan, and expand our content and infrastructure so that foreign visitors to Songpa can enjoy even richer experiences."
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