Korea Daily Brief

South Korea's Culture Ministry announced Wednesday a major push to make Korean culture a key economic driver and attract 40 million foreign visitors annually. The plan focuses on six priorities including building a cultural powerhouse and nurturing creative industries. The ministry will expand financial support for content makers—from music and gaming to film and animation—targeting the global market.

9.81 Park Jeju, a smart racing theme park on Jeju Island, just crossed 3 million paying visitors since opening in 2020. The park's success comes from its AI platform that tracks rider scores in real time and rewards loyal visitors with a tiered licensing system. Foreign visitors, especially from China, are driving recent growth with a 393% jump in visits.

Kaesong, North Korea's present-day city, was once Kaegyong—the grand imperial capital of the Goryeo dynasty with 25 protective gates welcoming diplomats and merchants across Asia. The iconic Namdaemun gate still stands as a UNESCO World Heritage site, though ground levels have risen 3 meters, making it appear shorter than originally built. A journalist recently walked through the massive granite foundations of Manwoldae palace, experiencing the physical remnants of this medieval Asian hub.

A journalist recently visited Kaesong, North Korea, to explore Manwoldae, the ancient imperial palace of the Goryeo empire (918-1392). Though wooden structures have long vanished, massive granite foundations and the iconic Namdaemun gate still stand as UNESCO-listed treasures. The site reveals how Kaegyong once bustled with officials, merchants, and diplomats from across Asia.

UNESCO's World Heritage Committee wrapped up a 10-day session in Busan this week, officially adding 25 new sites to the global heritage list. The additions include Japan's ancient Asuka-Fujiwara capitals, France's D-Day landing beaches in Normandy, and an expansion of Korea's tidal flats. This brings the total number of protected World Heritage sites to 1,273 across 173 countries.

Disney+ is launching 'House of Fates,' a spinoff of the hit show 'Battle of Fates,' where popular Korean shamans run a guesthouse for international guests. The cast includes the show's winner and top contestants who will share meals, listen to visitors' stories, and offer personal guidance. Guests were selected globally from Asia, Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and Africa through an open call.

Korea welcomed a record-breaking 10.71 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2024, with Seoul accounting for 8.32 million of them—about 78 percent of the total. Chinese visitors led the charge with 3.21 million arrivals, followed by Japanese tourists with 1.95 million. Foreign credit card spending also topped 10 trillion won for the first time, signaling strong consumer spending across the country.