■ '2026 Travel Month' Campaign
- Travelers to depopulating areas such as Jecheon and Haenam receive full round-trip train fare refunds
- 50% cashback on accommodation, meals, and activities
- Aims to shift domestic regional travel from day trips to overnight stays
- 194 public and private organizations participate, targeting 300,000 travelers
On a Friday evening, office worker A clocked out on time and headed to Seoul Station. The weekend destination: Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province. The trip felt lighter knowing transportation would be virtually free. A had pre-purchased a free travel package to a depopulating area through the Korail app, qualifying for a full refund on the round-trip train fare.
After boarding the train and riding for just over two hours, the scenery outside the window changed rapidly. City lights disappeared, replaced by mountain ridges and river courses. Arriving late, A checked into the accommodation, unpacked, and went straight to bed — planning to devote the entire next morning to the itinerary now that travel costs were no longer a burden.
By taking advantage of the "Travel Month" campaign run by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) during April and May, travelers like A can enjoy trips at half price. After purchasing a free travel package to a depopulating area and verifying visits to designated local spots, travelers receive 100% of the rail fare back as coupons.
