South Korea has seen tourism figures recover to nearly pre-pandemic levels this year, with around a third of visitors citing K-pop or K-drama—the so-called "Hallyu" or Korean wave—as a major motive for travelling to the East Asian country
South Korea on Thursday appointed K-pop girl band NewJeans "honorary ambassadors" as part of a drive to promote tourism.
Image: Jung Yeon-je / AFP©
South Korea on Thursday appointed K-pop girl band NewJeans "honorary ambassadors" as part of a drive to promote tourism, joining a long list of Korean celebrities to take up the role.
South Korea has seen tourism figures recover to nearly pre-pandemic levels this year, with around a third of visitors citing K-pop or K-drama -- the so-called "Hallyu" or Korean wave -- as a major motive for travelling to the East Asian country.
"We are very happy to be appointed as an ambassador to promote South Korean tourism today," band member Minji said, adding it would be a "great joy" for the supergroup to promote their country's charms.
Tourist arrivals are at "about 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels," said culture minister Yu In-chon.
"With NewJeans as tourism ambassadors, I expect even more people from all over the world to visit Korea," he added.