9 new regions added this autumn to 'half-price travel' (지역사랑 휴가지원) — up to 100,000 won per person, 140,000 won for young people, refunded
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
9 new regions have been selected for the 'half-price travel' programme (지역사랑 휴가지원) and will begin the service in sequence from the end of this month, with up to 100,000 won per individual and 140,000 won for young people refunded out of travel costs in the form of mobile local love gift certificates.
Key facts
| Refund amount | Up to 100,000 won per individual, and 140,000 won for young people, out of travel costs, refunded as mobile local love gift certificates |
|---|---|
| New regions (9) | Hwacheon-gun in Gangwon; Goseong-gun, Sancheong-gun and Hamyang-gun in Gyeongnam; Andong-si and Yeongcheon-si in Gyeongbuk; Seocheon-gun and Taean-gun in Chungnam; Jangheung-gun in Jeonnam |
| Start timing | Service scheduled to start in sequence from the end of this month after preparatory work |
| Extension in existing regions | Among the 16 regions of the first half, some — including Miryang-si, Geochang-gun, Wando-gun and Yeonggwang-gun — plan to allocate additional budget and continue the service in the second half |
| How to apply | Applications are received through each local government's website — details on 'Daehanmingug Guseokguseok' (대한민국 구석구석, visitkorea.or.kr) |
| Enquiries | Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Domestic Tourism Promotion Division 044-203-2854; Korea Tourism Organization, Regional Tourism Development Team 02-6271-2016 |
Last checked:
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization said on 27 August that they had selected 9 regions to newly join the 'Local Love Holiday Support (지역사랑 휴가지원, also called half-price travel)' programme this autumn. The 9 are Hwacheon-gun in Gangwon; Goseong-gun, Sancheong-gun and Hamyang-gun in Gyeongnam; Andong-si and Yeongcheon-si in Gyeongbuk; Seocheon-gun and Taean-gun in Chungnam; and Jangheung-gun in Jeonnam. Under the programme, people who visit rural and fishing areas designated as population-declining regions are refunded up to 100,000 won per individual, and 140,000 won for young people, out of their travel costs, in the form of mobile local love gift certificates (지역사랑상품권); the service started in 16 regions in April. The 9 new regions are scheduled to begin the service in sequence from the end of this month after preparatory work. Among the 16 regions that ran the programme in the first half of the year, some — including Miryang-si, Geochang-gun, Wando-gun and Yeonggwang-gun — plan to allocate additional budget and continue the service in the second half. Details are available on 'Daehanmingug Guseokguseok' (대한민국 구석구석, visitkorea.or.kr), and applications are received through each local government's website.
Background — why this change
Ahead of running the programme in the second half of the year, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization analysed the consumption and tourism effects of 'half-price travel' in the 16 regions covered in the first half. As of June, 5.2 billion won of refund budget had been used and at least 16.2 billion won of spending was recorded within those regions, which was assessed as a consumption-creating effect of at least 3.1 times the refunds. Spending categories were 45.5% food and beverages, 32.2% accommodation, 10.2% shopping and local specialities and 6.3% sightseeing and experience programmes, and 76.4% of users answered that they had increased their spending in anticipation of the refund. In addition, 31.2% of users made a trip they had not planned, 50.0% changed their destination to a half-price travel region, and 56.3% visited the region concerned for the first time as a result.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
Who can get money back, and how much?
People who visit rural and fishing areas designated as population-declining regions are refunded up to 100,000 won per individual, and 140,000 won for young people, out of their travel costs, in the form of mobile local love gift certificates.
Which regions are newly joining this time?
There are 9: Hwacheon-gun in Gangwon; Goseong-gun, Sancheong-gun and Hamyang-gun in Gyeongnam; Andong-si and Yeongcheon-si in Gyeongbuk; Seocheon-gun and Taean-gun in Chungnam; and Jangheung-gun in Jeonnam.
When can applications be made?
The 9 new regions are scheduled to start the service in sequence from the end of this month after preparatory work, and applications are received through each local government's website.