By Lee Dasom

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on March 16 announced the campaign "Traveling in Spring 2026" between next month and May.

The program offers major discounts in transportation such as train and airfare.

The Korea Railroad Corp. (Korail) will reimburse 100% of train fare in the form of a discount voucher to those who purchase free tours to regions with declining populations and verify their visits to designated attractions.

The five themed train routes including Seohaegeumbit (Yellow Sea's Golden Light) and Namdohaeyang (Southern Coast) are available at a 50% discount. The Naeilro (To Tomorrow) Pass offers KRW 20,000 off.

Those who buy round-trip domestic airfare through the search engine Naver can get Naver Pay points worth KRW 5,000 per person (maximum of KRW 20,000 for a group of four).

This year's Spring Accommodation Sale Festa will also be held over the campaign period.

About 100,000 discount vouchers will apply to accommodations in regions outside Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi-do Province. The newly released multiple-night voucher for stays of at least two nights gives KRW 70,000 off for lodging fees over KRW 140,000 and KRW 50,000 off if under KRW 140,000.

More information is available on the event's official website (ktostay.visitkorea.or.kr) or via the call center (1670-3980).

Depopulated regions will run a vacation support program that reimburses 50% of travel costs in the form of mobile gift certificates to stimulate repeat visits. Other discounts on accommodation and marine tours seek to attract more travelers to coastal areas such as beaches, fishing villages and islands.

Support for workers includes discounts of up to 50% (maximum KRW 30,000) for participants in an employee vacation support program on things such as lodging, admission and transportation nationwide if purchased on Benepia, a commercial site of the Korea Tourism Organization.

Other projects such as "Five People, Five Colors of Customized Travel" and the "Project to Discover Korea's Hidden Places 100X100" have visitors organize and participate in creating travel content.

Local governments and related organizations will host festivals and programs nationwide including "Night Quiz" by the Korea Heritage Service; Gochang Cherry Blossom Festival in Gochang-gun County, Jeollabuk-do Province; Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival in Jindo-gun County, Jeollanam-do Province; history experience at Suwon Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do Province; and Yeoju Ceramics Festival in Yeoju, Gyeonggi-do.

More information on the campaign is available in Korean on the official website of Travel Month (korean.visitkorea.or.kr/travelmonth).

dlektha0319@korea.kr