Global Seoul Mates, which is a group of overseas voluntary messengers introduce Seoul to countries around the worldwide via the Internet.
Here are the “Hallyu tour courses in Seoul” that have been for picked by Global Seoul Mates who love this city more than anyone.
It is not shown on Seoul Metropolitan Government’s organization chart, but there is a special overseas PR team that promotes Seoul to the world. They are called the Global Seoul Mates and the serve as the overseas PR messengers of the city. These people from around the world love Seoul so much that they voluntarily upload contents on Seoul to their SNS channels, and introduce the Korean capital to others.
Anyone who lives in Korea or overseas who has had a chance to visit Seoul or who loves this city is eligible to apply to become one of the Global Seoul Mates. People who can actively introduce Seoul via online are selected, and they serve as Global Seoul Mates for one year. Since the selection of the first group in May 2012, a total of 218 people in 30 countries worldwide are serving as Global Seoul Mates.
Global Seoul Mates take part in a mission conducted by Seoul Metropolitan Government on a quarterly basis. The current mission is, “to introduce Hallyu tour courses in Seoul.”
They are tasked with the mission to pick their favorite from among five themes, namely K-pop, Korean dramas & movies, weddings, fashion & beauty, and gourmet restaurants for celebrities, and to then introduce Seoul hotspots, which match their respective themes, to people who have never experienced Seoul.
In this current mission, a total of 62 people have participated and they have introduced 88 hotspots and tour courses. What do Hallyu tour courses in Seoul that have been recommended by foreigners who love the city look like?
As expected, the majority of Global Seoul Mates picked the categories of K-pop, and dramas & movies, which are the driving force of Hallyu. Tour courses involving gourmet restaurants, hotels, and hotspots that were featured in various Korean dramas are believed to be itinerary so exciting that fans of Korean dramas cannot visit and adequately enjoy all of them in just a two-day tour of Seoul.
Notably, a Global Seoul Mate in China uploaded her wedding photos, and introduced vivid travel essays on her experiences with wedding courses in Seoul.
From among the various and special Seoul tour courses recommended by Global Seoul Mates, Seoul Metropolitan City will select people who recommend quality courses based on the criteria of course’s freshness and quality, and will provide them with certain free offers. Also, the courses that are selected as quality programs will actually be reflected in the composing of the “Hallyu tour courses” provided by the city of Seoul.
As the courses have been singled out and recommended by foreigners who love Seoul, they will likely be helpful to developing courses that are more practical and fruitful than before.
*Government press release (September 16)