Gyeongsangbuk-do launches autumn tourism program for Seoul visitors
- The Gyeongsangbuk-do Culture and Tourism Corporation announced on September 27, 2026, the launch of a new series-based regional tourism initiative called the "Different Gyeongbuk Travel" program.
- The program features five specific cities and counties in Gyeongsangbuk-do, each paired with a representative color theme.
- Unlike traditional fast-paced package tours, the initiative utilizes a slow-travel framework aimed at keeping visitors in specific areas for longer periods.
The Gyeongsangbuk-do Culture and Tourism Corporation announced on September 27, 2026, the launch of a new series-based regional tourism initiative called the “Different Gyeongbuk Travel” program. Designed for visitors departing from the Seoul metropolitan area, the itinerary connects five distinct destinations across the province through a visual color concept designed to highlight local autumn scenery.
Five Regional Stops and Autumn Themes
The program features five specific cities and counties in Gyeongsangbuk-do, each paired with a representative color theme. Sangju represents the golden autumn season with its golden terraced rice paddies, while Yeongyang features white birch forests. Pohang offers a blue ocean backdrop along the East Coast, Goryeong highlights the green ridges of the Jisan-dong Tumuli, and Cheongsong anchors the red category with its ripe apple orchards near Juwangsan.
Slow Travel Itineraries and Local Economic Impact
Unlike traditional fast-paced package tours, the initiative utilizes a slow-travel framework aimed at keeping visitors in specific areas for longer periods. Each schedule pairs major natural landscapes with nearby local attractions, regional restaurants, and cafes to encourage spending in neighborhood commercial districts. According to Gyeongsangbuk-do Culture and Tourism Corporation President Kim Nam-il, the program was created to reinterpret the diverse autumn scenery of the region through color while offering rest and healing to urban travelers. He stated that the project aims to continuously expand the influx of city residents into Gyeongsangbuk-do, contributing to regional economic revitalization and balanced development.
Schedule and Reservation Details
The program runs every Saturday throughout October, operating as a day-trip bus tour departing from Seoul. The Sangju itinerary launches the series on October 3, followed by Yeongyang on October 10, Pohang on October 17, and a combined Cheongsong and Goryeong tour on October 24. The corporation limits each tour group to a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 40 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations and detailed itineraries are available through the designated tour operator’s official website. Organizers expect the direct shuttle connections to assist rural areas with lower public transit accessibility, such as Yeongyang, Cheongsong, and Sangju, by driving metropolitan consumption directly into local farm sales and food service revenues.