2023 for VISITKOREA was a year filled with introducing Korea’s beauty and the latest news to you, our beloved users. We can now share the results of what you all enjoyed best, as well as expected upcoming travel trends, through the 2023 VISITKOREA AWARDS!

1. Best Content

We’ve gathered the news, event, pages that were viewed the most by you, our readers!
* Hits based on English website results

1) Most-viewed news

- The All-new VISITKOREA is Finally Open! (67,530 Hits)

VISITKOREA opened as a new comprehensive travel platform in July, 2023. The news of this reopening was taken well by users, making it the most-viewed news for the entire year! New additions to the VISITKOREA platform included making a personalized travel course through the Travel Planner, reading Suggested Itineraries made by Korean celebrities and local artisans, and finding the perfect experience through the Tours & Travel Packages.

2) Most-viewed event

- Reserve a tour for a chance to win big prizes! (833,270 Hits)

Approximately 80% of all tourists to Korea come as fully independent travelers (FIT). It’s all thanks to these tourists that the FIT prize event received a record-high number of page hits! Participants purchased tour packages in a range of themes such as k-pop dancing and Korean make-up classes for the chance to win round-trip flight tickets to Korea.

3) Most-viewed theme page

- Challenge Korea (185,347 Hits)

The Challenge Korea page introduced the locations featured in “Challenge Korea,” a global promotional video campaign created in celebration of the VISIT KOREA YEAR 2023-2024. In particular, the PR videos include cameos of actor Lee Jung-jae from the Netflix drama “Squid Game” while showcasing Korea’s various charms.

4) Most-viewed content

- Suggested Itineraries page (56,757 Hits)

The Suggested Itineraries section introduces one-day tour courses to different regions throughout Korea. VISITKOREA users spent lots of time browsing these carefully curated tour courses, including those recommended by hallyu stars like Cha Eun-woo and ENHYPEN.

2. Best Columns

It’s easy to see what Korea’s top attractions were for 2023 based on the columns our readers viewed the most. The following column themes were the best of the best after comparing the top 10 columns across our English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese websites.
* Hits based on English website results

1) New & trending attractions

In a fast urban setting like Seoul, trends change every day. VISITKOREA does our best to help tourists keep up with the changes through our travel highlights. In 2023, some of our most popular columns were for these trending and new attractions!

2) Best spots to enjoy the changing seasons

Korea is a beautiful country all year round thanks to the changing of the seasons. Depending on when you’re visiting, you are in for a unique landscape. Our readers were very interested in seasonal content, including locations to view spring blossoms, or what festivals to attend in fall.

3) Budget-friendly travel

Budget-friendly travel tips are always a hit, allowing tourists to enjoy themselves fully without worrying about overspending. Some of VISITKOREA’s best travel tips were for tax refunds at convenience stores and introducing various tour passes to save money on attractions included in your itinerary.

3. Best Attractions

Year after year, locations showing Korea’s beautiful traditions are popular attractions, such as Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village. Among Japanese and Simplified Chinese users, tourist sites in Busan were also high on the list. While tourists in previous years focused solely on Seoul, this year's top attractions show tourists are expanding their horizons.

4. Best Keywords by language

The most common keywords searched for on the VISITKOREA website are as varied as the languages of our users. For example, English-speaking users tended to search for information on various attractions around Seoul, while Japanese-speaking users wanted information on arrivals and immigration.

English
#VISITKOREA #GyeongbokgungPalace #NamiIsland #GwangjangMarket #BukchonHanokVillage
Our English-speaking users were most interested in learning about tourist attractions around Korea’s capital city. This matches with the survey results that showed 86% of international travelers visit Seoul.

Japanese
#K-ETA #K-ETAApplication(Process) #KoreaTourismOrganization #KoreanPublicHolidays #GyeongbokgungPalace
Japanese-speaking users were most interested in learning more about the K-ETA, an electronic travel authorization for visitors who do not need a visa, including how to apply for it.
* K-ETA applications are exempt for tourists from 22 countries, including Japan, from April 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024 (See details)

Simplified Chinese
#KoreanVisa #KoreanPublicHolidays #KoreaTouristAttraction #GyeongbokgungPalace #KoreaTourismOrganization
Chinese tourists were most interested in basic travel information for Korea. Chinese tourists made up the largest portion of international visitors in the third quarter of 2023. It’s clear they were using the VISITKOREA website to gather all the necessary information for their trip.

Traditional Chinese
#KoreaTourismOrganization #KoreaTaxRefund #GyeongbokgungPalace #BukchonHanokVillage #LotteMart
Traditional Chinese language users were most interested in learning about Korea’s tax refund system, as well as Korea’s marts where they could purchase souvenirs and snacks.

* The VK Awards were based on usage data from January 1 to December 31, 2023. VISITKOREA has even more contents and events planned for 2024. We look forward to your continued interest!

* This content was last updated in January 2024, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check for updates before visiting.