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Gov't offers 100% cashback on selected domestic trips for 'Spring Travel Month' campaign

Published: 18 Mar. 2026, 16:53 Updated: 26 Mar. 2026, 09:34

WOO JI-WON
[email protected]

Official poster for "Spring Travel Month" campaign [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is launching the "Spring Travel Month" campaign to promote domestic tourism, offering a range of travel perks during April and May including transportation discounts of up to 100 percent.

Under the slogan "Travel Differently, Discover Widely," the campaign — organized in collaboration with the Korea Tourism Organization — provides discounts on transportation, accommodation and tourism products, as well as curated travel content.

Korail will provide a 100 percent cashback program for travelers who purchase travel packages to regions deemed at risk of depopulation. Those who visit the designated tourist sites within 42 such regions and verify their visits will be eligible for the benefit.

Five themed trains — including the West Sea Golden Train and South Coast Train — will also be available at a 50 percent discount, while a 20,000 won ($13.50) discount will be offered to those purchasing the Naeilro Pass, popular among young travelers. All transportation benefits will be available to use from April 1 to May 31 for up to 90,000 travelers.

For air travel, passengers booking domestic round-trip flights through Korea's online portal Naver will receive 5,000 won in Naver Points. Available to 70,000 users, the boarding period must be between April and May.

Some 100,000 discount vouchers for accommodation will be distributed for stays outside Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi to promote regional tourism. Available starting at 10 a.m. on April 8 through online travel agencies, they can be used until April 30, with a 30,000 won discount on stays over 70,000 won and a 20,000 won discount for stays below that amount.

To encourage longer stays in regional areas, a new multi-night discount program has been introduced this year. Travelers staying two nights or more can receive up to 70,000 won off accommodations priced above 140,000 won, or up to 50,000 won for lower-priced stays.

For more information about the discount vouchers and the number of vouchers distributed for different regions, visit the official website of the event or contact the call center at 1670-3980.

To address regional depopulation, up to 50 percent of travel expenses — capped at 100,000 won — will be reimbursed in the form of local mobile currency vouchers to those traveling to at-risk regions. Travelers must submit a travel plan in advance and provide proof of expenses after their trip to receive the reimbursement. Eligible regions include parts of Gangwon, North Chungcheong, North Jeolla, South Jeolla and South Gyeongsang.

Official poster for "Spring Travel Month" campaign [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

A range of customized benefits is also available to meet diverse travel demands. Discounts of up to 40 percent will be offered on domestic travel products through special promotional pages on Gmarket and Lotte On starting March 26.

The campaign will also promote coastal tourism, offering discounts for trips to coastal areas, fishing villages and islands. Accommodation discounts include 30,000 won off stays over 70,000 won and 20,000 won off lower-priced stays. Marine leisure products priced above 10,000 won are eligible for a 30 percent discount, while marine tourism package products will also be discounted by 30 percent.

There is a perk exclusive to workers as well. Workers participating in the government's vacation support program can receive up to a 50 percent discount on travel products — including accommodations, admission tickets and transportation — through the platform vacation.benepia.co.kr, a commercial site of the Korea Tourism Organization.

The campaign will also feature travel programs such as "5 Styles, 5 Ways to discover Korea's Hidden Gems," through which 1,000 participants can travel with popular content creators across 25 travel products focused on seasonal food, solo travel, running, photography and reading. The "100x100 Korea Travel Destinations Project" will have 100 travel experts — including journalists and writers — recommend destinations across 100 travel themes, with the public voting to select the top locations.

Local governments and related organizations across the country will also offer discounts and host festivals and programs nationwide including the Korea Heritage Service's nighttime quiz event, the Gochang Cherry Blossom Festival, the Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival, historical experiences at Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and the Yeoju Ceramic Festival.

Gwangju's Dong District will offer food, beverage and accommodation discounts through the "Gwangju Art Pass," while Yeongwol County will provide up to 50 percent off admission to major attractions such as Cheongnyeongpo.

Cities including Incheon, Donghae and Daegu will run discounted city tour bus programs. The Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism will offer 50 percent off temple stay experiences throughout May.

"We hope this campaign will serve as a meaningful opportunity to rediscover the charm of domestic tourism and revitalize regional economies," Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young said. "We encourage people to regain vitality in their daily lives and create memorable experiences exploring all corners of Korea while enjoying the many benefits."

Detailed information about the campaign is available on the official website at korean.visitkorea.or.kr/travelmonth.

BY WOO JI-WON [[email protected]]