Visit spots chosen by the public: '100X100 Project' check-ins begin

Destinations chosen by more than 40,000 public voters are now being connected to real travel experiences. Season-specific programs will roll out in sequence through year's end to sustain momentum for domestic tourism.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization on Tuesday launched a check-in program inviting travelers to visit destinations selected through the "Korea Landmark Discovery 100X100 Project," a public participation travel campaign. The initiative focuses on turning the 9,883 landmarks — 6,336 unique sites — tallied through votes by more than 40,000 people into actual travel destinations rather than leaving them as a simple list.

Running throughout September, the program offers three activities. The first, a themed destination challenge called "Pro Wanderer's Stamp Rally," asks participants to visit landmarks across four themes and submit a verification photo; a single visit qualifies for a prize draw. Running at the same time, a "100X100 Phone Case Design" event lets participants decorate photos of visited spots using an online sticker editor and submit them for a chance to have their design printed on an actual phone case — 50 winners will be selected. Then, from Sept. 21 through Sept. 30 — the Chuseok holiday period — a "Tell Me Your Wish" event will recommend a fitting landmark based on a wish the user types in.

The Korea Tourism Organization plans to expand participatory events through year's end, including a pet-friendly travel check-in and a festival for bittersweet travel moments, alongside destination recommendations timed to holidays and vacation seasons.

All events are accessible through the website linked to the "Corners of Korea" platform.

Kim Seok, head of the Korea Tourism Organization's domestic tourism division, said even a short trip to a nearby landmark can be a fulfilling travel experience without elaborate planning. "From September through Chuseok and into year's end, I hope people find new reasons each season to explore corners of the country, and that the joy of those visits translates into vitality for local communities," he said.