Kim Moon-soo "Tourism Elevated to National Strategic Industry... Establishing K-pop Cities Nationwide"

[Financial News] Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, pledged on the 27th to elevate the tourism industry to a national strategic industry and establish 'K-pop Cities' in the five major megacities as part of his 'Tourism Powerhouse Policy' pledge.

Candidate Kim announced at the central party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, "I will transform every corner of the country into attractive hotspots through a national land overhaul," and stated this.

First, he announced plans to discover regional attractions nationwide to enhance tourism potential. He plans to establish a 'Peace Eco-Belt' in the northern Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) areas of Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces. He aims to host the Grand Tour road cycling event, held in France, Italy, and Spain, here to transform it into the '4 Grand Tours'.

Candidate Kim declared, "I will establish an ecotourism base by linking the Hantan River basin and the areas of Cheorwon, Yeoncheon, and Paju with UNESCO geoparks," and "develop region-friendly film and history experience content to create spaces where nature, music, art, and sports can be enjoyed together."

In the West Coast and Chungcheong and Honam regions, cultural and sunset tourism belts will be established. Candidate Kim stated, "We will create a cultural and sunset tourism belt where you can enjoy the beautiful sunsets of the West Coast, religious relics of Buddhism and Catholicism, and the essence of Baekje culture spanning Gongju and Buyeo all at once," and "We will create a 1500KM South Coast Blue Link Belt connecting the historical sites of fierce past battles to the centers of industrialization from Oryukdo in Busan to the southernmost village of Haenam." Along with this, the plan is to foster the tourism industry centered around mountains and temples in Seoul, such as Bukhansan, Dobongsan, Suraksan, Bulamsan, and Gwanaksan.

The plan is to maximize the use of 'K-Culture' in fostering the tourism industry. By establishing arena performance venues in the five major megacities, the goal is to create K-pop Cities and support the musical industry to become a 'leading country in the world's top 3 musicals'. To this end, tourism infrastructure such as transportation and accommodation will be expanded, and regulations will be eased.

Candidate Kim emphasized, "We will simplify entry visas to ensure that foreign tourists have no inconvenience in entering the country," and "We will dismantle regulations hindering the revitalization of the tourism industry, overhaul systems to enable small business success, and create high-value-added tourism industries as a source of job creation preferred by young people."

Candidate Kim further stated, "Through a tourism startup contest for young people, we will provide regional startup support funds and support young people to work and grow in their hometowns."


haeram@fnnews.com Lee Haeram Reporter