Gimhae, Gyeongnam, announced on April 22 that it is recruiting participants for its “One-Month Travel in Gimhae” program.
Designed to help visitors immerse themselves in the charm of Gimhae and fall in love with the city, the initiative may appear similar to one-month stay programs offered by other local governments across Korea. A closer look, however, reveals a key difference: while most such programs are limited to Korean nationals, Gimhae’s program is also open to foreign nationals and overseas Koreans.
As the global popularity of K-pop and K-dramas continues to drive a steady increase in international visitors to Korea, Gimhae aims to leverage this momentum to promote its rich tourism resources both domestically and abroad, while encouraging longer stays. The city offers a wealth of historical attractions, including the Royal Tomb of King Suro, the Daeseong-dong Ancient Tombs, and the Bonghwang-dong archaeological site—remnants of the ancient Gaya Kingdom, a leading force of the Korean Peninsula’s Iron Age. These sites are expected to hold strong appeal for international travelers.
In a move to actively attract foreign tourists, Gimhae has gone beyond simply allowing foreign nationals and overseas Koreans to apply, announcing that they will be given priority in the selection process. As the primary goal of the program is global promotion, all participants—including international applicants—are required to operate social media channels such as Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.
Participants selected for the program will receive reimbursements of up to 70,000 KRW per night for accommodation and up to 200,000 KRW per team for experiential activities. Foreign nationals and overseas Koreans are eligible for additional support, including up to 200,000 KRW in round-trip transportation costs between major transit hubs—such as airports, train stations, or bus terminals—and their accommodation in Gimhae.
The travel period runs from May 11 to June 30, during which participants may choose a stay ranging from three nights and four days to up to 29 nights and 30 days. Foreign participants staying for the full 29 nights may receive up to 2.47 million KRW in total travel subsidies. Applications are open until the 30th and can be submitted online, via email, or by mail.
✓ Download the application form here ☞ https://www.gimhae.go.kr/03360/00023/00029.web?amode=view¬_ancmt_mgt_no=107059&cpage=1&sstring=스밈애&stype=title§ion=01
