South Korea Appoints K-pop Sensation NewJeans as Tourism AmbassadorsSouth Korea Appoints K-pop Sensation NewJeans as Tourism Ambassadors South Korea has named the rising K-pop girl band NewJeans as its “honorary ambassadors” for tourism promotion. The appointment is part of the country’s ongoing efforts to leverage the popularity of Korean pop culture to attract international visitors. K-pop’s Global Appeal The appointment of NewJeans reflects the global impact of K-pop, which has become a major cultural phenomenon in recent years. The band member Minji expressed their excitement, stating that it would be a “great pleasure” to showcase theの魅力 of their country. Increasing Tourist Numbers South Korea’s tourism industry has been recovering from the pandemic, with visitor numbers rising close to pre-pandemic levels. About one-third of visitors cite K-pop and K-dramas as key reasons for traveling to the East Asian nation. NewJeans’ Recommendations The band members shared their personal recommendations for visitors, including culinary experiences such as eating gimbap dipped in tteokbokki sauce and visiting traditional Korean houses known as hanok. They also highlighted the importance of Korean cuisine, particularly in summer, recommending dishes like ginseng chicken soup and cold buckwheat noodles. Successor to Global Superstars NewJeans joins a prestigious list of Korean celebrities who have served as tourism ambassadors for South Korea, including Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae and K-pop icons BTS. They will serve for a year without any diplomatic responsibilities. Economic Impact Expected Culture Minister Yu In-chon expressed optimism that NewJeans’ appointment will result in an increase in tourism from around the world. The band’s recent success in Japan, with their first fanmeet at the Tokyo Dome and a million-selling Japanese debut single, demonstrates their global appeal. Conclusion South Korea’s appointment of NewJeans as tourism ambassadors underscores the country’s commitment to promoting its rich culture and natural beauty through the power of K-pop. The band’s influence and relatability among young global audiences is expected to further boost South Korea’s tourism industry.
South Korea named K-pop girl band NewJeans “honorary ambassadors” as part of a campaign to promote tourism, joining a long list of Korean celebrities who have taken on the role.
South Korea saw tourist numbers rise again this year to near pre-pandemic levels, with about a third of visitors citing K-pop or K-drama (the so-called “Hallyu,” or Korean Wave) as a major reason for traveling to the East Asian country.
“We are very happy to be appointed today as ambassadors to promote tourism in South Korea,” said band member Minji, adding that it would be a “great pleasure” for the supergroup to promote the charms of their country.
According to Culture Minister Yu In-chon, the number of tourists is at “about 90% of the pre-pandemic level.”
“With NewJeans as tourism ambassadors, I expect even more people from all over the world will visit Korea,” he added.
The group will serve as ambassadors for a year without any real diplomatic responsibilities, succeeding previous representatives such as Squid game star and Emmy winner Lee Jung-jae and K-pop megastars BTS.
Members of the band shared their personal recommendations for visitors, including eating “gimbap dipped in tteokbokki sauce” and taking “one photo a day,” which is an “unwritten rule among the young Korean generation.”
Haerin said she recommended tourists to visit a hanok (a traditional Korean house), while Hanni urged visitors to embrace Korean cuisine.
“When you come to Korea, you really have to eat Korean food. And because it’s summer and the weather is warm, you can really enjoy it if you eat dishes like samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) or mul-naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles),” she said.
More than 11 million tourists visited South Korea last year, a 245% increase from 2022, when some pandemic restrictions were still in place.
Most of the visitors were Chinese and Japanese tourists.
NewJeans recently held their first fanmeet at the Tokyo Dome, less than two years after their debut—the fastest Tokyo Dome debut for a foreign artist. Tickets sold out in minutes.
The group’s Japanese debut single Supernatural had already sold more than a million copies as of Thursday, July 11. This makes the album’s fifth million-selling copy a fact. (AFP)
