K-Food and K-Beauty to Energize Local Tourism; Korea Culture & Tourism Institute, Incheon Institute Seek Mega-Regional Cooperation

[Financial News] A forum is being organized to discuss ways to develop K-Culture, including K-food and K-beauty, into local tourism content and boost tourism through cooperation among regions.
On the 5th, the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute said it would jointly host the 2026 Regional Culture and Tourism Forum with the Incheon Institute on the 5th and 6th at Songdo Convensia and locations across Yeongjong Island in Incheon.
The Regional Culture and Tourism Forum is a policy forum held annually since 2009 to discuss local cultural and tourism issues and expand exchange and cooperation among regional research institutions. This year marks its 18th edition.
This year's theme is “K-Tourism on the Rise: Innovation in Local Tourism and Mega-Regional Cooperation.” The first day's forum will be divided into two sessions: “Strategies for Developing and Promoting K-Culture-Based Local Tourism Content” and “Mega-Regional Tourism Cooperation Based on the Five Mega-Regions and Three Special Self-Governing Provinces Strategy, and Revitalizing Local Economies.”
In the first session, Hwang Hee-jung, a research fellow at the Incheon Institute, will present “Directions for Developing K-Food Tourism,” while Kim Jin-young, an associate research fellow at the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute, will present “The Current Status of K-Beauty Initiatives and Policy Directions.”
In the second session, Yoon Ju, a research fellow at the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute, will present “The National Balanced Growth Strategy for the Five Mega-Regions and Three Special Self-Governing Provinces and Directions for Mega-Regional Tourism Policy.” Choi Young-seok, a research fellow at the Chungbuk Research Institute, will then share the direction of interregional tourism cooperation and challenges in the planning process, speaking on “Cases and Challenges in Establishing a Mega-Regional Plan for the Chungcheong Region.” On the second day, participants will take a field trip to locations across Yeongjong Island.
Meanwhile, the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute revised its “Occupational Safety and Health Management Policy” and established a “Safety Management Charter,” making safety and health its top management priority, and held a joint labor-management pledge ceremony that day. Institute President Hwang Gyo-ik and Lee Ju-yong, chair of the Workers’ Committee, pledged as representatives of labor and management and agreed to work together to create a safe working environment and establish a prevention-oriented safety culture.
[email protected] Shin Jin-a Reporter