MCST to Launch Accommodation Sale Festa on August 20, Distributing 800,000 Discount Vouchers

30,000 Won Discount for Accommodation Bookings Over 70,000 Won
Greater Savings for Stays in Disaster-Affected Areas: Up to 50,000 Won Off

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) announced on August 11 that it will launch the 2025 second-half “Accommodation Sale Festa” in partnership with the Korea Tourism Organization, starting from August 20. The initiative aims to boost domestic travel demand during the upcoming fall and winter seasons and to revitalize local economies.

A total of 800,000 accommodation discount vouchers will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, 72,000 more vouchers will be provided to special disaster areas affected by wildfires, heavy rainfall, and to regions impacted by the 12·29 airliner disaster, with the goal of supporting local economic recovery and revitalizing tourism. The second-half Accommodation Sale Festa will be held in two phases: the “Fall Edition & Special Disaster Area Edition” and the “Winter Edition.” Each person can receive one voucher per period, for a maximum of two times.

The Fall Edition & Special Disaster Area Edition vouchers can be used for accommodation products with check-in dates between August 20 and October 30. The Winter Edition vouchers are valid for stays from November 3 to December 7.

Both the Fall and Winter Editions target accommodation facilities outside the Seoul metropolitan area (Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon). For bookings of 70,000 won or more, a 30,000 won discount voucher will be provided. For bookings under 70,000 won, a 20,000 won discount voucher will be available.

The Special Disaster Area Edition offers even greater discounts. For accommodation products priced at 70,000 won or more, a 50,000 won discount will be given, and for those under 70,000 won, a 30,000 won discount will apply.

The number of supported regions eligible for discounts has been significantly expanded compared to the Special Disaster Area Edition held in June (which covered 10 regions). Newly included are the special disaster areas designated due to wildfires-Sancheong, Hadong, Andong, Yeongdeok, Yeongyang, Uiseong, Cheongsong, and Ulju-as well as Jeollanam-do and Gwangju Metropolitan City, which were affected by the 12·29 airliner disaster. Furthermore, 33 cities, counties, and districts within eight metropolitan and provincial governments-Gyeonggi, North Chungcheong, South Chungcheong, South Jeolla, North Gyeongsang, South Gyeongsang, Gwangju, and Sejong-have been newly designated as special disaster areas due to heavy rainfall between July 16 and July 20.

The discounts apply to domestic accommodation facilities such as hotels, condos, resorts, and pensions. Room-only products and unregistered facilities are excluded from the discount program. Users who participated in previous Accommodation Sale Festa events are eligible to participate again this time. However, the “Fall Edition” and “Special Disaster Area Edition” vouchers cannot be issued redundantly. Detailed information is available on the official website or call center for the “2025 Korea Accommodation Sale Festa.”

The accommodation discount vouchers will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, one per person, through participating online travel agency channels starting at 10 a.m. on August 20. After receiving a voucher, users must complete their reservation and payment within the validity period, from 10 a.m. each day to 7 a.m. the following day. If the voucher is not used within the validity period due to reservation cancellation or other reasons, it will be automatically voided. However, users who did not use their voucher may reapply for a new voucher from 10 a.m. the next day.

The MCST plans to intensify promotional efforts for the second-half Accommodation Sale Festa to encourage wide public participation. In collaboration with “Chungju Man,” a YouTube content creator who has gained popularity through promoting Chungju City, new content will be produced and released on the “Korea Tourism Organization TV” YouTube channel. Additional prizes will be awarded through a drawing for participants who verify video views or leave messages of support for the accommodation discount voucher event.

Kim Geunho, Director General for Tourism Industry Policy at the MCST, stated, “We hope that the 2025 second-half Accommodation Sale Festa will help reduce travel costs for the public and serve as an opportunity for rapid recovery in disaster-affected areas and for local economic revitalization. As this event is part of a supplementary budget initiative to boost the livelihood economy and stimulate domestic demand, we encourage everyone to join in traveling to regions where you can fully enjoy the atmosphere of fall and winter.”