Tourists spending 100,000 won or more receive Yanggu gift vouchers matching half their costs
Yanggu-gun, the Punchbowl-area county nestled at the foot of the Geumgangsan range, is rolling out an aggressive public marketing campaign this fall — offering tourists what amounts to half-price travel in October and November.
Yanggu-gun and its tourism organization, Yanggu DMO, are running the "2026 Yanggu Sweet Travel Festa Half-Price Travel" program, which refunds a portion of visitors' travel expenses in the form of Yanggu Love gift vouchers.
The program aims to extend tourists' stays, boost local spending at accommodations, restaurants, cafes and activity venues, and build a base of repeat visitors who maintain an ongoing connection with the county.
Participants who spend between 100,000 won ($74) and 200,000 won during their trip receive a 50,000 won gift voucher, while those who spend 200,000 won or more receive a 100,000 won voucher. An additional 50,000 won voucher is available for participants who also make a hometown love donation of 100,000 won or more.
Eligible spending includes accommodation at partner lodgings, tourism and activity fees within Yanggu-gun, restaurant and cafe bills, and purchases of local specialty products and agricultural goods.
The program is open to residents from outside Yanggu-gun. To participate, all members of a travel party must obtain a "Yanggu Love Cyber Resident Card," stay at least one night at a partner accommodation, and visit at least one tourist site within the county.
The travel and application window runs from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30. Prospective participants must register before beginning their trip, and the program may close early if the budget runs out.
Participants apply in advance through the Yanggu DMO website, then travel and visit the DMO office with receipts and identification to receive their gift vouchers after verification.
"We hope tourists will stay in Yanggu, explore different parts of the county and spend money at local businesses through the Sweet Travel Festa," said Park Hyeon-jeong, head of Yanggu-gun's tourism and culture division.
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