Common historical ties dating back to the Korean War and cultural similarities like strong family ties, preserving traditional structures in modern cities are what bring Korea and Turkey close to one another. They are two very different yet similar countries. During this interview, the Director of the Korea Tourism Organization Ms. Soyoung Park told me that Turkey is the ‘Only Sister Country’ to Korea. We have much more to discover about Korea…

First of all, would you please introduce yourself to us. Can you also tell us about The Korean Tourism Organization. When was it established? What is the aim of the organization? When did it open an office in İstanbul?

I’m the Director of Korea Tourism Organization’s (KTO) İstanbul office; we are responsible for a total of 20 countries in the region. Our aim is to improve and strengthen the relations between Turkey and Korea in tourism.

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) is an organization which functions under the Republic of Korea to conduct efforts for the promotion of Korea in the world as it is one of the most prominent countries of the Far East. The organization was founded in 1962 after the release of tourism incentive law, enacted by the Republic of Korea. The organization also included the opening of worldwide promotion offices to its domestic investments and developed travel solutions for many international events. We, as KTO, make efforts and develop projects to promote Korea in every region that we are responsible for to sustain sincere relations with travel agencies, media platforms, meeting planners and individual tourists. In this regard, as The Korea Tourism Organization Istanbul Office (KTO) operating under the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in İstanbul, we have been working relentlessly to improve and strengthen the relations between Turkey and Korea in tourism since 2012.

Can you give us some information on the tourism activities between the two countries? And what is your aim for the future?

When we compare Korea and Turkey, I can say that our countries are very similar to each other with their geographical beauties -you can enjoy living four seasons at the same time in different regions-, historical and cultural richness. However, we still are two countries with two different cultures; and this I think, offers us a chance to discover and experience the differences ranging from our cuisine to our music. And we can say that all of these have increased the interest of Turkish tourists in South Korea.

South Korea already welcomes more Turkish tourists every year. The number of Turkish tourists visiting South Korea in 2015 was 23,440. This figure increased to 30 thousand in 2019. The strong growth halted in 2020 due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. But after the pandemic restrictions are lifted, we are sure the growth will continue. And we want to introduce the Korean culture in Turkey more, and welcome more guests from Turkey in our country. In this scope, we have a target of attracting 60 thousand tourists from Turkey to Korea in the first phase after the pandemic.

The office in Turkey overlooks 20 countries. You must be very busy. What kind of projects are you working on currently in Turkey and other countries?

KTO has been developing easy, economic, and safe strategies for the travel and accommodation of people from any part of the world to Korea and contributes for the creation of a formation of a creative and sustainable tourism industry with an experience of more than 50 years. In our region, as the KTO Istanbul Office, we are responsible for a total of 20 countries including Israel, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia in addition to Turkey. The strong diplomatic and cultural bond between Turkey and Korea is a unique source of motivation for our activities. This bond between the two countries is also the most important reason why the regional office operates here in Istanbul. We pay attention to the development of communication with travel agencies, particularly from the point of enabling them to create ties with the travel agencies in Korea. We also participate in tourism fairs held in these countries within the scope of efforts to promote Korea. In this scope, we conduct activities such as supporting the travel agencies in Turkey to enhance their tour programs for Korea; and support them in many aspects from advertising and promotion activities to events and campaigns to reinforce ties between Korea and Turkey to support them in promoting the Korean culture and selling travels to Korea.

The pandemic was bad for business in the tourism sector. What is the current situation? Can Turkish citizens freely travel to South Korea? What are the requirements and visa situation for Turkish citizens?

South Korea has been seen as a rising trend in tourism in the world in the last 10 years. Before the outbreak of COVID-19, South Korea was recording a new peak in the number of visitors to the country. South Korea recorded a total of 18 million tourists in 2019, ranking 30th in the world in absolute terms. This figure was 7 million 820 thousand in 2009. Korea is welcoming tourists from Turkey with the opportunity of visa-free travel. Within the framework of the measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Visa Exemption Agreement and the Visa-Free Entry Rule has been suspended for a temporary period beginning from April 13, 2020. Unfortunately, visa applications for tourism purposes including visiting friends, family and relatives, independent travel etc. are not accepted. And since COVID-19 pandemic continues, visa application procedures are carried out with restrictions. (For detailed and updated visa informaton you can visit: https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/tr-tr/wpge/m_9152/contents.do ) However, this is a temporary situation taken as part of the response to the pandemic and will return to normal as the pandemic ramps down in the world. As KTO Istanbul Office, we look forward to welcoming everyone who misses and waits to travel to Korea.

Can you give a little information on Korea? What should the tourist expect from Korea? Where should we visit and what should we definitely see in Korea?

South Korea is one of the most unique and pleasant countries of the Far East to travel. It is a very attractive country with its ancient history and temples, wonderful nature, beautiful beaches, and modern city life. It offers various contrasting options from the Buddhist temples on ancient building summits such as Bulguksa to the ultra-modern skyscrapers of Seoul such as Lotte World Tower. Seoul, one of the most visited cities in the world that was also granted with the UNESCO Design City Award in 2010, is undoubtedly the first destination that comes to mind during a Korea visit. Seoul is a big metropolis where traditional and modern life meet. It is the city of high-tech subways, modern skyscrapers, side street markets, as well as the city of pop culture, palaces, and temples. Busan, the country’s second largest city, is an important destination in terms of sea tourism. It is also an important city for Turkish tourists with the Turkish Cemetery that was built after the Korean War.

Finally, we can talk about Jeju Island. Jeju is one of the few places in the world to win the coveted UNESCO Triple Crown. Jeju Island has achieved UNESCO’s coveted ‘Triple Crown’ by being designated as a Biosphere Reserve, World Natural Heritage and Global Geopark. This makes the island an environmental treasure that must be protected globally.

The Korean Wave (Hallyu) which includes the emerging TV series, movies, and music of Korea in the early 21st century also opens the gates of a different world of entertainment.

Also, another important reason why travelers visit Korea is for Korean beauty products, specifically identified as K-Beauty. Korea offers high quality at very reasonable prices for tourists who want to buy beauty products.

What is the best time to visit Korea?

Korea like Turkey, with its geographical beauties, historical and cultural richness, is a country that can be enjoyed living four seasons at the same time in different regions. The travellers can visit Korea any time as they can enjoy various features of the country in all seasons. During spring months the flowers are in bloom and green spaces are bathed in the delightful hues of the pink cherry blossom, especially the city of Gyeongju. In autumn months stunning shades of orange and red pepper the autumnal landscapes – particularly throughout the country’s National Parks such as Songnisan, Jirisan and Seoraksan can be experienced. In summer months there many festivals such as Green Tea, Lotus, Music, Water and Sea Festivals that can be enjoyed in the beautiful Korea nature. Korea is offering snow sports, ice rinks, and ice fishing festivals and the chance to enjoy the pleasant sights in and around Seoul for those who love winter weather. From markets to ice sculptures, sunrise festivals to sledding, there’s plenty of things to do during Korean winter.

What kind of food should tourists try in Korea?

Kimchi is one of Korea’s most famous foods; we can even say that it’s the country’s national food. Koreans usually eat Kimchi, a type of pickle made from cabbage, in every meal. For this reason, I recommend you to try Kimchi along with many Korean dishes such as Kimbap, Bulgogi, Kkanpunggi.

What does the Korean Tourism Organization aim to do in the near future, after the pandemic is over?

Obviously, regardless of the region, the main purpose of all KTO offices is to promote Korean culture more in all countries in their regions, and to make Korea the first destination that comes to mind in the Far East. As KTO Istanbul Office, we continue our activities within the scope of this target in all countries for which we are responsible. However, of course, some countries may differ from others in terms of potential. We’ll continue to pay attention to the development of communication with travel agencies, particularly from the point of enabling them to create ties with the travel agencies in Korea. Also, we’ll continue to participate in tourism fairs held in these countries within the scope of efforts to promote Korea. In this scope, we will conduct activities such as supporting the travel agencies in Turkey to enhance their tour programs for Korea; and continue to support them in many aspects from advertising and promotion activities to events and campaigns to reinforce ties between Korea and Turkey to support them in promoting the Korean culture and selling travels to Korea.

How long have you been in Turkey?

I have been here in KTO Istanbul Office since 2019.

Were you able to travel in Turkey? What were your favourites?

Although it has been nearly 2 years since I came to Turkey, unfortunately due to the pandemic period, I did not have the chance to visit different places in Istanbul or travel to different cities in Turkey. But I can say that Istanbul, with its historical and cultural heritage is one of the most important cities in the world. It connects two continents with its geographical location, and it is a very cosmopolitan city that brings millions of people together from different cultures and lifestyles. Although it’s really different from my country, I still feel as if I’m home. Like Korea, Turkey and Istanbul’s rich historical and cultural heritage reminds me of my country.