The so-called "half-price travel" program that originated in Gangjin County, South Jeolla Province, is set to expand nationwide. The initiative draws particular attention as President Lee Jae-myung has previously emphasized its importance.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, led by Minister Choi Hwi-young, announced on March 27 that it will launch the "Regional Love Vacation Support" pilot program in partnership with the Korea Tourism Organization. The program refunds half of travel expenses for trips to rural areas experiencing population decline.
Following a public solicitation for participating regions in the first half of the year, 16 local governments were selected: Pyeongchang, Yeongwol, and Hoengseong counties in Gangwon Province; Jecheon in North Chungcheong Province; Gochang in North Jeolla Province; Gangjin, Yeonggwang, Haenam, Goheung, Wando, and Yeongam in South Jeolla Province; and Miryang, Hadong, Hapcheon, Geochang, and Namhae in South Gyeongsang Province.
According to the ministry, this program marks the first initiative designed to counter regional population decline by revitalizing tourism in rural depopulation areas. Participants receive 50% of their travel expenses back as mobile regional gift certificates, encouraging return visits. The maximum refund is 100,000 won per individual and 200,000 won for groups of two or more.
The government and Korea Tourism Organization solicited applications from 84 rural depopulation areas starting in January, ultimately selecting 16 regions through evaluation. The chosen municipalities will support half-price travel from April through the end of June following preparatory work.
Citizens aged 18 or older wishing to participate must first submit and receive approval for their travel plans from the relevant local government. After traveling and submitting expense documentation, participants receive a 50% refund in mobile regional gift certificates upon verification. The certificates must be used within the year at participating merchants in the travel destination or online shopping malls selling regional specialty products.
The government has allocated 6.5 billion won for the "Regional Love Vacation Support" program. After conducting the program in 16 regions during the first half, four additional regions will be selected for the second half. Based on comprehensive review of this year's pilot results, the ministry plans to gradually expand coverage starting next year.
The half-price travel initiative is a policy President Lee Jae-myung has championed as part of balanced regional development. He first mentioned it at a cabinet meeting in September last year, noting that "Gangjin's half-price travel has proven quite effective." At the National Tourism Strategy Meeting on March 25, he stated, "We need to expand policies like Gangjin County's half-price travel that reduce the burden of travel costs while ensuring benefits flow back to local businesses."
Minister Choi Hwi-young said, "The Regional Love Vacation Support program is a meaningful initiative that refines successful local government models and spreads them nationwide." He added, "We will work closely with local governments to establish this pilot as a successful model that brings new vitality to regions struggling with population decline while providing citizens with affordable and enjoyable domestic travel opportunities."