Leisure · Travel 스킵네비게이션

November
W4 11.25 ~ 12.1
General

Heavy snowfall up to 40cm in the Seoul metropolitan and central regions.

Culture

'Immortal Painter Van Gogh' exhibition at Seoul Arts Center. (Nov.29,2024-Mar.16,2025)

'Vienna 1900: From Gustav Klimt to Egon Schiele' exhibition at the National Museum of Korea. (Nov.30,2024-Mar.03,2025)

Travel

Opening of ski resorts in Gangwon Province.

W3 11.18 ~ 11.24
General

APEC and G20 Summits.

Sports

2026 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF 3rd Qualifying Round, Kuwait vs. South Korea. (Nov.19)

Culture

Musical 'Aladdin' opens, performances in Seoul and Busan. (Nov.22,2024-Jun.22,2025)

W2 11.11 ~ 11.17
General

College Scholastic Ability Test. (Nov.14)

Sports

2026 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF 3rd Qualifying Round, Palestine vs. South Korea. (Nov.14)

Travel

South Korea and Peru sign a tourism cooperation MOU.

W1 11.4 ~ 11.10
General

Trump wins the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. (Nov.05)

Sports

'2024 Seoul Gourmet Week' in Seoul. (Nov.10-24)

Culture

'2024 Seoul Gourmet Week' in Seoul (No.08-14).

The 19th Busan Fireworks Festival at Gwangalli Beach. (Nov.09)

2024 Pyeongchang Highland Kimchi Festival. (Nov.08-14)

10월
4주 10.28 ~ 11.3
공통

할로윈 데이(10.31)

서해선·장항선·평택선 철도 노선 개통(11.2)

평년 대비 4-5도 높은 이상 기온

스포츠

한국프로야구 KBO리그, 프로스포츠 사상 첫 천만관중 돌파

2024 LoL 월드 챔피언십, T1 통산 5회 우승

2024 JTBC 서울마라톤 개최(11.3)

여행

단풍 절정 시기 (10.28~31)

2024 대한민국 숙박세일 페스타 종료(10.31)

문화체육관광부·한국관광공사, 2025년 열린관광지 20개소 선정(파주, 춘천, 정읍 등)

3주 10.21 ~ 10.27
공통

태풍 '콩레이' 북상

문화

원주만두축제 개막 (10.25~27)

강릉커피축제 개최 (10.24~27)

2주 10.14 ~ 10.20
공통

재보궐선거(10.16)

북한, 러시아 대규모 파병

스포츠

2026 FIFA 북중미 월드컵 3차 예선, 대한민국 vs 이라크

2024-2025 KBL 개최(10.19~4.8)

1주 10.7 ~ 10.13
공통

한글날 (10.09)

스포츠

2026 FIFA 북중미 월드컵 3차 예선, 요르단 vs 대한민국

문화

소설가 한강, 한국인 최초 노벨문학상 수상

G-페스타 광주(식품대전, 김치축제, 주류관광페스타 등)

October
W4 10.28 ~ 11.3
General

Halloween Day (Oct.31)

The opening of the West Sea Line, Janghang Line, and Pyeongtaek Line railways (Nov.2)

4-5 degrees higher than normal temperatures

Sports

Korean professional baseball KBO League surpasses 10 million spectators for the first time in professional sports history.

2024 LoL World Championship, T1 has won a total of 5 times.

2024 JTBC Seoul Marathon held (Nov.03)

Travel

Peak autumn foliage season (Oct.28~31)

2024 South Korea Accommodation Sale Fiesta Ends (Oct.31)

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Tourism Organization select 20 tourist destinations to open in 2025 (Paju, Chuncheon, Jeongeup, etc.)

W3 10.21 ~ 10.27
General

Typhoon 'Kong-Rey' moving north

Culture

Wonju Mandu Festival Opening (Oct.25~27)

Gangneung Coffee Festival held (Oct.24~27)

W2 10.14 ~ 10.20
General

By-election (Oct.16)

North Korea, large-scale deployment to Russia

Sports

2026 FIFA North America World Cup 3rd Qualifying Round, South Korea vs Iraq

2024-2025 KBL held (Oct.19~Apr.8)

W1 10.7 ~ 10.13
General

Korean Language Day (Oct.09)

Sports

2026 FIFA North America World Cup 3rd round qualifier, Jordan vs South Korea

Culture

Novelist Han Kang, the first Korean to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

G-Festa Gwangju (Food Fair, Kimchi Festival, Liquor Tourism Festival, etc.)

September
W5 9.25 ~ 10.01
General

Armed Forces Day (Oct.01)

National Foundation Day (Oct. 03)

Sports

2024 KBO postseason held (Oct.2 to 29)

Kim Chae-yeon, 2024 International Skating Union (ISU) Shanghai Trophy champion

Culture

The 29th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) opening (Oct.02 to 11)

2024 Seoul International Fireworks Festival (Oct.5) and Seoul Light Han River Light Island Festival (Oct.4 to 13) held in conjunction

W4 9.23 ~ 9.29
Sports

A plenary session of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee (controversy involving the Korea Football Association and the Korea Badminton Association) held

2024 LoL World Championship held (Sep.25 to Nov.2)

Culture

Suwon Jazz Festival opening (Sep.27 to 28)

Travel

The government will hold an opening ceremony for the entire 4,500km of the ‘Korea Trail’

W3 9.16 ~ 9.22
General

Chuseok (September 16 to 18)

Nationwide heavy rain damage occurred (central and southern regions)

Sports

KBO baseball surpasses 10 million spectators for the first time in history

Culture

‘Love’s Haechuping’, cumulative audience exceeds 1 million (Sep.16)

‘Olivia Rodrigo’s first performance in Korea will be held at Jamsil Gymnasium (Sep.20 to 21)

Travel

Greece imposes tourist tax on Santorini cruise ship passengers

W2 9.9 ~ 9.15
General

5 days including the weekend, Chuseok holiday (Sep.14 to 18)

Sports

2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup 3rd round qualifier, Oman vs South Korea

Culture

Soprano Choi Ji-eun, winner of the 60th Verdi International Vocal Competition

Baritone Sam Park, winner of the 73rd ARD International Music Competition in the vocal category

National Autumn Flower Festival Opens (Gapyeong, Goyang, Taean, Inje, Pyeongchang, etc.)

Travel

SpaceX, first successful civilian space flight

W1 9.2 ~ 9.8
General

Government designates Armed Forces Day as a temporary public holiday

Korea-Japan summit held (Sep.6)

Sports

Yoo Hae-Ran, LPGA FM Global Championship winner

2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup 3rd round qualifier, South Korea vs Palestine

Culture

‘KIAF (Korea International Art Fair)’ and ‘FRIEZE’ open at COEX

The 15th Gwangju Biennale opens in 2024 (Sep.07~Dec.01)

August
W4 8.26 ~ 9.1
General

Seoul, heat wave warning lifted

Sports

2024 Paris Paralympics (Aug.29 to Sep.9)

Culture

DDP Design & Art, Seoul Light', opens at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) (Aug.29 to Sep.8)

Travel

2024 South Korea Accommodation Sale Fiesta Coupon Issuance (Aug.27 to Nov.17)

W3 8.19 ~ 8.25
Sports

2024-2025 German Bundesliga started

Culture

2024 Busan Biennale opens (Aug.17 to Oct.20)

Kanye West to hold concert in Korea 'Vulture's Listening Experience (Aug.23)

Travel

Phuket, Thailand, landslides occur due to heavy rain.

W2 8.12 ~ 8.18
General

Liberation Day (Aug.15)

Sports

The English Premier League (EPL), French Ligue 1, Spanish La Liga, and Italian Serie A will be held in the 2024-2025 season.

Culture

The 23rd 'Jeonju World Sound Festival' opens (Aug.14 to 18)

2024 Seoul Popcon (Seoul Pop Culture Convention) held at COEX (Aug.16 to 18).

Travel

Korean tourists attacked by robbers in Angeles, a famous tourist destination in the Philippines.

W1 8.5 ~ 8.11
General

2024 Paris Olympics closing ceremony

Culture

Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival opening (Aug.2 to 4)

Daejeon City, '2024 Daejeon Midnight Festival' opens (Aug.9 to 17)

Hwaseong-gun, Gangwon Province 'Dunnae Highland Tomato Festival' opens (Aug.9 to 11)

Travel

Japan's Kyushu Miyazaki Prefecture 7.1 earthquake occurred.

July
W5 7.29 ~ 8.4
General

Nationwide heat wave, longest tropical night recorded

Sports

Player Yang Min-hyuk, joins Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League

Coupang Play Series, Team K League vs Tottenham (Jul.31)

Coupang Play Series, Bayern vs Tottenham (Jul.03)

Culture

East Sea, summer vacation festival held (Gyeongpo, Naksan, Mangsang, etc.)

W4 7.22 ~ 7.28
General

2024 Paris Olympics (Jul.26-Aug.12)

Travel

Qoo10 (Tmon, WeMakePrice) settlement delay crisis

W3 7.15 ~ 7.21
General

Nationwide heavy rain damages

Global information and communication technology (IT) crisis (communication, finance, aviation paralysis, etc.)

Sports

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism confirms audit of Korea Football Association (controversy over appointment of coach Hong Myung-bo)

W2 7.8 ~ 7.14
General

Korea-US summit meeting

Travel

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism designates 5 tourism special zones (Itaewon, Yongdusan·Jagalchi, Goyang, Dongducheon, Bugok Hot Springs, etc.)

W1 7.1 ~ 7.7
General

Monsoon front moving north, nationwide heavy rain

Sports

2024 KBO League All-Star Game to be held (Jul.6)

Culture

Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival Opening (Jul.4 - Jul.14)

Waterbomb 2024 opening (Jul.5-Aug.31)

Travel

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lifting Level 1 Japan travel advisory and downgrading Iran to level 2

June
W4 6.24 ~ 6.30
General

National rainy season started

Sports

Yang Hee-yeong professional golfer, LPGA KPMG Women's PGA Championship winner

Culture

Pianist Sun Yool, winner of the Gina Bachauer Competition in the United States

Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do will operate 'Nakhwa Play' every month starting from June

Travel

Reduction of passport issuance and departure fee from July

W3 6.17 ~ 6.23
General

Russian President Putin visits North Korea

Sports

Copa America 2024 held from June 21 to July 15

Culture

Chuncheon Makguksu Dakgalbi Festival Opening (June 18 to June 23)

Daegu International Musical Festival (DIMF, June 21 to July 8)

Gyeonghuigung Night Event Program, First Held (June 21 to June 22)

Travel

Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Tourism Foundation to host '2024 Seoul International Travel Mart (SITM 2024)'

W2 6.10 ~ 6.16
General

A 4.8 magnitude earthquake occurred in Buan County, North Jeolla Province

Sports

2026 FIFA North America World Cup, South Korea vs. China (June 11)

UEFA Euro 2024 will be held from June 15 to July 15

Travel

Chinese cruise ship's first arrival at Busan Port after 6 years and 4 months

W1 6.3 ~ 6.9
General

Memorial Day (June 06)

Sports

2026 FIFA North America World Cup, South Korea vs. Singapore (June 6)

Culture

2024 Gangneung Dan-O Festival held (June 6 to June 13)

May
W4 5.27 ~ 6.2
General

Korea-UAE Summit

Sports

An Se-young wins the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 750 Singapore Open

Culture

Seoul Jazz Festival 2024 opens (May.31 to Jun.2)

Travel

2024 Traveling Month (Jun.1 to June.30)

2024 South Korea Accommodation Sale Fiesta (May.28 to May.30)

W3 5.20 ~ 5.26
General

Korea-Japan Summit Meeting (May.26 to May.27)

Sports

Heo Mi-mi won the 57kg division at the 2024 International Judo Federation World Judo Championships

Culture

2024 Im Young Woong concert [IM HERO - THE STADIUM] held at Seoul World Cup Stadium (May.25 to May.26)

W2 5.13 ~ 5.19
General

Buddha's Birthday (May.15)

Korea-Cambodia Summit

Culture

The 2024 Seoul International Garden Expo at Ttukseom Hangang Park (May.16 to Oct.08)

W1 5.6 ~ 5.12
General

Children's Day substitute holiday (May.6)

Widespread damage across the country due to heavy rain and strong winds

China, Labor Day holiday (May.1 to May. 5)

Culture

International art fair '2024 Art Busan' opens (May.9 to May.12)

Buddha's Day Lantern Parade Procession (May.11 to May.12)

Travel

Over 60 flights canceled at Jeju Airport due to heavy rain nationwide

Government to open 10 routes for peace in the DMZ

April
W5 4.29 ~ 5.5
General

Labor day (May. 1)

Children's day (May. 5)

Culture

25th Jeonju International Film Festival Opens (May.1 to 10)

Daegu Tteokbokki Festival (May.4 to 5)

Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do, hosts Boseong Integration Festival (May 3 to 7)

Travel

Northeast African countries experience once-in-a-century flood disaster

W4 4.22 ~ 4.28
General

Japan Golden Week (Apr.27-May.6)

Culture

Hampyeong Butterfly Festival Opens (Apr.26 to May.6)

2024 Goyang International Flower Expo Opens (Apr.26 to May.12)

Seoul's Five Great Palaces and Jongmyo Palace Culture Festival opens (Apr.27 to May.5)

Korea Duty Free Festa (Apr.26 to Jun.7)

Travel

Venice, Italy, charges visitors an entrance fee

W3 4.15 ~ 4.21
General

South Korea ranks 3rd out of 35 OECD countries for food prices

Sports

Lee So-hee and Paik Hana win women's doubles title at the 2024 Asian Badminton Championships

Culture

2024 LOVESOME Music Festival opens at Olympic Park (Apr.27-28)

Na Hoon-a Retirement Tour: '2024 Thank You - Last Concert' Nationwide Tour (Apr. 27 - Jul. 6)

Conductor Seung Won Lee becomes the first Korean to win the MALCO International Conducting Competition

Travel

Government Issues Temporary Special Travel Advisory for Iran

Seoul Tourism Association recruiting for domestic travel support project for 1,500 tourists in disadvantaged groups

W2 4.8 ~ 4.14
General

22nd Parliamentary Election

Iran retaliates against Israel with air strikes

Culture

Traditional Culture Festival Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour (Apr.11 to Jun.2)

The 13th Busan International Gallery Art Fair opens at BEXCO, Busan (Apr.11-)

W1 4.1 ~ 4.7
General

Israel bombs Iranian consulate in Syria

Culture

2024 Hwarang Art Festival opens at COEX, Seoul (Apr. 3 to 7)

Travel

Taiwan experiences a 7.4 magnitude earthquake

Chinese Spring Festival Holiday (Apr.4 to 6)

March
W4 3.25 ~ 3.31
General

Influx of yellow dust from China

Sports

2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup 2nd round qualifier, South Korea vs. Thailand (Mar.26)

Culture

National Cherry Blossom Festivals (Seokchon Lake, Yeouido, Nakdong River, etc.)

Some regions are postponing their cherry blossom festivals due to the delayed blooming season (Sokcho, Gyeongju, Gumi, etc.)

Travel

Forest fires nation-wide (Inje, Uljin, Goryeong, etc.)

W3 3.18 ~ 3.24
General

UN Security Council rejects ceasefire resolution in Gaza

Sports

2024 Major League Baseball held (Mar.20~Sep.29)

2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup second round qualifier, South Korea vs. Thailand (Mar.21)

2024 KBO League hosting (Mar.23~)

Culture

Movie 'Pamyo (Exhuma)' surpasses 10 million viewers (Mar.24)

National Spring Flower Festivals (Jinhae Gunhangje Festival, Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival, Everland Tulip Festival, etc.)

Nonsan Strawberry Festival Opening (Mar.21~24)

Travel

National cherry blossom blooming period (Mar.22~)

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Tourism Organization to hold Japan K-Tourism Roadshow (Fukuoka, Osaka, Tokyo)

W2 3.11 ~ 3.17
Sports

2024 MLB World Tour Seoul Series held (Mar.17~Mar.21)

Culture

Cyril Kongo solo exhibition 'Meta Canvas' held at Museum Wave (Mar.14~Jun.1)

Eddy Martinez's solo exhibition 'To Be Continued' held at Space K (Mar.14~Jun.16)

Travel

National Forsythia and Azalea blooming season (from Mar.15)

Iceland volcano eruption · Blue Lagoon closure

W1 3.4 ~ 3.10
Culture

Steven Harrington solo exhibition 'Stay Mellow' held at Amorepacific Museum of Art (Mar.3~Jul.14)

National Spring Flower Festivals (Gurye Sansuyu Flower Festival, Gwangyang Maehwa Festival, etc.)

February
W4 2.26 ~ 3.3
General

Independence Movement Day (Mar.1)

Sports

Starfield Anseong, bungee jumping accident

2024 K League 1 started (Mar.1-)

Culture

Rium Art Museum, hosting a solo exhibition 'Voice' by Philippe Parreno (Feb.28-Jul.07)

Gyeongju City, awarded Best World Heritage City and Festival Category at the '2024 Pinnacle Awards and Asia Festival City Conference'

Violinist Im Do-kyung, wins the Stuttgart Violin Competition in Germany.

Seoul Living Design Fair opens at Seoul COEX (Feb.28-Mar.03)

W3 2.19 ~ 2.25
General

Gangwon Yeongdong heavy snow warning, metropolitan area heavy snow advisory

Sports

Major League 24 Spring Exhibition Games Held (Feb.23-Mar.23)

Culture

The nationwide festival celebrating the first full moon of the lunar new year (including activities such as burning old lunar calendars, moon-gazing, stepping on the ground to mark the beginning of spring, and flying kites).

Jeonnam Gangjin Celadon Festival Opening (02.23~03.03)

National Central Museum to host 2024 National Brand Expo (Feb.22-27)

Travel

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Tourism Organization to launch 'Travel Month' campaign (Feb.20-Mar.31)

W2 2.12 ~ 2.18
Sports

Conflict between Korean national football team players

Woosanghyuk wins the indoor high jump competition in Banska Bystrica (Feb.14)

Jürgen Klinsmann, national football team coach, dismissed (Feb.16)

Culture

74th Berlin International Film Festival (Feb.15-25)

The 2024 World Art Expo and Seoul International Sculpture Festival opens at COEX in Seoul (Feb.15-18).

Baby Fair Seoul opens at Seoul COEX (Feb.15-18)

W1 2.5 ~ 2.11
General

Lunar New Year Holidays (Feb.9-12)

Substitute holiday for Lunar New Year (Feb.12)

Sports

Jesse Lingard, joining K League 1 FC Seoul

Culture

Special performance of M Drone Light Show to celebrate Lunar New Year, held at Gwangalli Beach in Busan (Feb.10)

January
W5 1.29 ~ 2.04
General

Closure of the Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics

North Korea conducts cruise missile launch

Culture

Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan opens (Feb.4 to Feb.11)

Travel

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Korea Tourism Organization launch worker vacation support program (Starting from February 1 until exhaustion)

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism designates 'Gongju City, Yeosu City, and Seongju county' as specialized cities for night tourism in 2024

W4 1.22 ~ 1.28
General

Extreme cold wave from the Arctic, nation-wide

Culture

Musical 'Notre-Dame de Paris' Opens

Gangwon Snow Festivals Kick Off (Daegwallyeong Snow Flower Festival, Taebaeksan Snow Festival, etc.)

Travel

4.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Near Tokyo

W3 1.15 ~ 1.21
General

Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Established

Gangwon Yeongdong region experiences heavy Snowfall of up to 40cm and severe cold wave

Sports

2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics Opens (Jan.19 to Feb.01)

2024 LoL Champions Korea Spring opens (Jan. 17 to Apr. 14)

W2 1.08 ~ 1.14
General

Bank of Korea Keeps Key Interest Rate Unchanged for the 8th Consecutive Time

North Korea Launches Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile

Sports

2023 AFC Asian Cup Opens in Qatar (Jan.13 to Feb.11)

An Seyoung wins Women's Singles at 2024 Malaysia Open (Super 1000)

Culture

2024 Korea Grand Sale Opens (Jan.11 to Feb.29)

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to Hold '2024 New Year's Concert' at the Seoul Arts Center

W1 1.01 ~ 1.07
General

New Year (Jan. 01, 2024)

Sports

FIFA National Team Evaluation Match: South Korea vs Iraq (Jan.06)

Travel

A magnitude 7.6 earthquake in Japan

Korean tourist fatally attacked in Guam

December
W4 12.25 ~ 12.31
General

Christmas (Dec. 25)

Culture

Pyeongchang Trout Festival (2023. Dec.29 to 2024, Jan.28)

The New Year's Eve bell-ringing ceremony for 2023 and the sunrise event took place in the vicinity of the Bosin-gak Pavilion

Travel

6.3 magnitude earthquake near Bali, Indonesia

W3 12.18 ~ 12.24
General

Cold wave from artic

WHO designates coronavirus variant 'JN.1' as a variant of concern

Culture

Movie 'Spring in Seoul' surpasses 10 million viewers

Large-scale media festivals held throughout Seoul (Seoul Media Art Week, Dec.19 to 25 / Seoul light DDP Dec.21 to 31, etc.)

Travel

Jeju Airport Cancellations and Delays Proliferate Due to Heavy Snowfall

W2 12.11 ~ 12.17
Sports

Lee Jung-hoo joins MLB's San Francisco Giants

Culture

Seoul Winterfesta kicks off (Seoul Light Gwanghwamun, Seoul Light Lantern Festival, Gwanghwamun Square Market, etc. 2023.Dec.15.~2024.Jan.21.)

Seoul Comic World, held at KINTEX in Ilsan (Dec. 16 to 17)

W1 12.04 ~ 12.10
General

The UN Security Council rejects the ceasefire resolution between Israel and Hamas

Gasoline - Diesel price declines for 9th consecutive week

Culture

The musical Macbeth opens (Dec.02 to Dec.30)

2023 Busan International Art Fair (BIAF 2023) opens at BEXCO, Haeundae (Dec.07 to Dec.11)

'K-Link Festival' commemorating the 2023-2024 Korea Visit Year held in Jamsil (Dec.10)

November
W4 11.27 ~ 12.03
General

Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, magnitude 4.0 earthquake

Culture

Yongsan War Memorial Museum, 'Kim Sang-ok, Awakening the Nation' Special Exhibition Opening (Dec.01, 2023 to Mar.10, 2024)

The Busan International Liquor & Wine Exhibition held at BEXCO (Dec.01 to Dec.03)

W3 11.20 ~ 11.26
General

North Korea launches military reconnaissance satellite

Sports

Yang Hee-young, professional golfer wins LPGA CME Group Tour Championship

2026 FIFA North, Central America, and Caribbean World Cup 2nd Qualifiers, South Korea VS China (Nov.21)

Culture

Black Friday (Nov.24)

Travel

National ski resorts opening (Nov.24~)

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Tourism Organization hosts COEX Food Week 2023

W2 11.13 ~ 11.19
General

College enterance exam (Nov.16)

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit held

Sports

League of Legends World Championship (Worlds) SKT T1 victory

2026 FIFA North, Central America and Caribbean World Cup 2nd Qualifiers, South Korea VS Singapore (Nov.16)

Culture

Korea Sale Festa (Nov.11 to Nov.30)

The international game exhibition '2023 G-STAR' will open in Busan (Nov.16 to Nov.19)

Travel

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Tourism Organization to hold 'Vegan Tour to Korea 2023'

W1 11.06 ~ 11.12
General

First cold wave warning issued for the capital region and Gangwon province

The value of Japanese YEN has fallen to the 860 won range

Sports

Player Kim Ha-seong selected for the 2023 MLB Golden Glove National League Utility Division

Culture

Bass player Park Jae-sung wins the international vocal competition 'Operalia'

Daelim Museum to hold the Mischa exhibition (Nov.10, 2023 to Mar.31, 2024)

October
W5 10.30 ~ 11.05
General

Spread of bedbugs nation-wide

Halloween (Oct. 31)

Sports

2023 JTBC Seoul Marathon Race held (Nov.05)

Culture

Hongseong County, Chungnam, to host '2023 Global BBQ Festival (Nov.03 to Nov.05)

2023 Pyeongchang Goryeongji Kimchi Festival (11.3~11.12)

18th Busan Fireworks Festival held

Travel

Traveling weekend (Nov.30 to Dec.03)

Asiana Airlines sells cargo business

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization hosts the 2023 K-Travel Tech Summit, an international travel marketing conference

W4 10.23 ~ 10.29
Culture

The opening of the circus 'Circus of the Sun, Luzia' (Oct.25 to Dec.31)

2023 Daejeon Bread Festival held (Oct.28 to Oct.29)

Travel

2023 South Korea Accommodation Sale Festival held (Oct.27 to Nov.24)

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization will host the '2023 Korea Medical Tourism Expo' in Indonesia

W3 10.16 ~ 10.22
General

Trilateral Joint Air Drills of South Korea, the United States, and Japan

Sports

FIFA National Team Evaluation Match: Korea vs Vietnam (Oct.17)

2023 KBO League Closing (Apr.01 to Oct.17)

2023 KBO Postseason held (Oct.19 to Nov.15)

Culture

The opening of the Busan One Asia Festival (BOF) K-POP Concert (Oct.21 to Oct.22)

W2 10.09 ~ 10.15
General

Hangeul Day (Oct.09)

Sports

Kim Hyo-joo, The Ascendant LPGA Champion

The League of Legends World Championship (Worlds) held in Seoul and Busan (Oct.10 to Nov.19)

FIFA National Team Evaluation Match held Korea vs Tunisia (Oct.13)

Culture

Budget Market Sam-guk Festival (Oct.13 to Oct.19)

Travel

Korea Railroad launches 'Untan Godo 1330' travel service

W1 10.02 ~ 10.08
General

National Foundation Day (Oct.03)

Israel-Hamas War

Sports

Yu Hae-ran, a pro, won the LPGA Walmart NM Arkansas Championship

Culture

Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) Opening (Oct.04 to Oct.13)

2023 Seoul World Firework festival (Oct. 07)

October Autumn flower festivals held throughout the country (including reeds, silver grass, buckwheat flowers, chrysanthemums, etc.)

Travel

Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues special travel advisory for Israel

September
W4 09.25 ~ 10.01
General

Chuseok holiday (Sep.28~Oct.03)

Culture

Pianist Park Jin-hyung, winner of the Tchaikovsky Competition.

Implementation of measures for the stability of people's livelihood during the Chuseok holiday (such as exemption of highway tolls)

Travel

2023 South Korea Accommodation Sale Festival (Sep.27~Oct.15)

W3 09.18 ~ 09.24
General

Gasoline and diesel prices have risen for 11 consecutive weeks in Korea

Sports

The 19th Hangzhou Asian Games from September 23rd to October 8th.

Culture

2023 Gangbyeon Song Festival (New Challenge) held in Pyeongchang

Travel

Ulleungdo large-scale landslide

W2 09.11 ~ 09.17
General

North Korea-Russia Summit

Railway labor union strike

Sports

FIFA National Team Evaluation Match: South Korea vs Saudi Arabia (Sep.13)

Athlete Woo Sang-hyuk, winner of the men's high jump at the 2023 World Athletics Federation Diamond League Final.

Culture

2023 Jeonju World Sound Festival (Sep.15.~24.), Jeonju Jazz Festival (Sep.15.~17.) held

W1 09.04 ~ 09.10
General

G20 Summit of the major 20 countries

Korean government designates October 2nd as a temporary public holiday.

Sports

FIFA National Team Evaluation Match held, Korea vs Wales game (Sep.08)

Culture

The international art fair Kiaf (Kiaf SEOUL, Sep.06~10) and Frieze (FRIEZE SEOUL, Sep.06.~09.) held.

The K-Content Festival 'Stylish Han River (Sep.08.~30.)', 'Han River Light Performance Drone Light Show (Sep.08.~Oct.27.)' held

Travel

Seoul City and Seoul Tourism Foundation hosted '2023 Seoul Medical Tourism International Travel Mart (SITMMT 2023)'

Morocco earthquake in North Africa

August
W4 08.28 ~ 09.03
General

Start of the second semester at nationwide universities

Central Disease Control Headquarters, downgrading COVID-19 to a level 4 infectious disease

Culture

Yeasan City, Chungnam Province, to hold '2023 Yeasan Beer Festival' (Sep. 01 to 03)

Jeju Folklore and Natural History Museum to hold Kazuma Yamoi Exhibition 'Seeking the Soul' (Sep. 01, 2023 to Feb. 29, 2024)

Travel

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues a special travel advisory for Gabon in Africa, where a military coup has broken out

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization host the 2023 Mongolia Korea Medical Tourism Expo

W3 08.21 ~ 08.27
General

Japan releases contaminated water from Fukushima

Elementary, middle, and high schools start

Sports

Shin Jin-seo, 9th dan, won the 9th Ying Shibei World Professional Go Championship

UFC on ESPN 52 - Holloway vs Jung Chan-sung (Aug.26), Jung Chan-sung retires

Player Ahn Se-young, wins the 2023 World Individual Badminton Championship

Culture

2023 CassCool Festival

Gundam FUN EXPO 2023 (Aug.24 to 27)' and 'Seoul Pop Culture Convention (Aug.25 to 27)' held at COEX

The 11th 'Busan International Comedy Festival (BICF)' opens (Aug.23 to Sep.03)

W2 08.14 ~ 08.20
General

Liberation Day (Aug.15)

A summit meeting between South Korea, the United States, and Japan

Sports

2023-2024 German Bundesliga held.

Culture

78th Anniversary of Liberation Day Commemorative Historical and Cultural Festival '2023 Seodaemun Independence Festival' held (Aug.12 to 15)

Seoul Museum of Art opens '2023 Summer Music Festival' (Aug.22 to 27)

2023 World Taekwondo Culture Festival held in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do (Aug.18 to 24)

Travel

Airports raise 'departure fee' exemption from under 2 to under 6 years old

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries opens the 'Republic of Korea International Marine Leisure Week' (Aug.18 to 27)

W1 08.07 ~ 08.13
General

Typhoon Khanun, moving northward

Sports

The English Premier League (EPL), French Ligue 1, Spanish La Liga, and Italian Serie A will be held in the 2023-2024 season

Culture

Yoon Hankyeol, the first Korean to win the 'Karajan Young Conductor Award' at the competition

The 19th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival Opening (Aug.10 to Aug. 15, 2023)

Travel

Large wildfires in Hawaii

Three telecommunication companies implement 'Pass Smart Airline Ticket' service for identification and boarding pass verification through a pass app

Chinese government allows its citizens to travel abroad in groups for the first time in 3 years since the COVID-19 pandemic

2023 25th World Scout Jamboree Closing Ceremony in Saemangeum (Aug.11)

July
W5 07.31 ~ 08.06
General

National heat wave warning, tropical night

Sports

2023 Coupang Play Series, Jeonbuk Hyundai vs Paris Saint-Germain (Aug.02)

Recurve Men's/Mixed Team Gold at World Archery Championships Berlin 2023

Culture

2023 Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival (Aug.04 to Aug.06)

Travel

2023 Saemangeum hosts the 25th World Scout Jamboree

W4 07.24 ~ 07.30
General

National heat wave warning · tropical night & heavy rain advisory

Continual senseless crime in Sillim and Bundang occurred

Sports

2023 Coupang Play Series, Team K League vs AT. Madrid (Jul.27)

2023 Coupang Play Series, Manchester City vs AT. Madrid (Jul.30)

Hosted the 2023 KOVO Cup professional volleyball tournament (Jul.29 to Aug.13)

Culture

Boryeong Mud Festival Opens (Jul.21 to Aug.06)

Summer festivals held throughout Gangwon Province (Hongcheon, Hwacheon, Taebaek, Sokcho, Chulwon, etc.)

W3 07.17 ~ 07.23
General

Heat warning for inland areas including Seoul

Declared 13 special disaster areas, including Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province and Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do Province

Sports

Kim Min-jae signs a five-year contract with FC Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga

Culture

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism holds Korea Summer Beauty Sale (Jul.20 to Aug.20)

Kim Young-woong wins Grand Prix at the 20th Seoul International Dance Competition

Travel

International Outdoor Camping & Sports Festival Seoul (Jul.21 to Jul.23)

W2 07.10 ~ 07.16
General

National heavy rain warning

Sports

Woo Sang-hyuk wins men's high jump at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships

2023 KBO League All-Star Games (Jul.15)

Culture

Character Licensing Fair 2023 (Jul.13 to Jul.16)

Seoul Art Fair Urban Break 2023 opens (Jul.13 to Jul.16)

Pianist Sehyun Kim Wins First Prize at Cleveland International Youth Piano Competition

Travel

Incheon International Airport pre-registers for facial recognition departure service 'Smart Pass'

W1 07.03 ~ 07.09
General

National heatwave warning

Sports

Lee Kang-in signs a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in Ligue 1, France

Culture

Dinosaur Expo, held at KINTEX in Ilsan (Jul.08 to Aug.27)

2023 World Choir Contest, held in Gangneung, Korea (Jul.03 to Jul.13)

June
W4 06.26 ~ 07.02
General

Beaches open nationwide

Culture

2023 Incheon Pentaport Music Festival

Travel

Korea Tourism Organization hosts 'HIKR Festa' to celebrate one year anniversary of Korea Tourism Organization's 'HIKR Ground'

W3 06.19 ~ 06.25
General

Russia sees 'Wagnerian' coup d'état

Sports

Hosted a soccer national team trial (South Korea vs. El Salvador, 6.20)

Culture

2023 Waterbomb held in 9 cities including Seoul, Incheon, and Busan (Jun.23 to Aug.19)

Travel

Seoul Named 'Best Leisure City in Asia' (Global Traveler, 11th Leisure Lifestyle Awards)

Korea Tourism Organization to host '2023 Pet Tourism Forum'

W2 06.12 ~ 06.18
General

Hosted a soccer national team trial (South Korea vs Peru, Jun.16)

Culture

Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul Tourism Organization to host '2023 BTS 10th Anniversary Festa' (Jun.12 to 25)

Bruno Mars Super Concert in Korea (Jun.17 to 18)

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity '2023 Gangneung Dan-o Festival' (Jun.18 to 25)

Tenor Kim Sung-ho wins vocal category at BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2023

W1 06.05 ~ 06.11
General

Memorial Day (Jun. 6)

Establishment of Gangwon special self-governing province

Culture

Musical Chicago in Korea, held at Blue Square in Seoul (May.27~Aug.06)

Travel

K-TAC (Korea Small Travel Agency Cooperative) Offers 'Let's Play Summer!' Discount Promotion

May
W5 05.29 ~ 06.04
General

24,604 new COVID-19 cases (As of May.31)

COVID-19 emergency level downgraded to ‘Alert’ (reversing to 5-day quarantine recommended)

Buddha's Birthday substitute holiday designation finalized

North Korea launches military reconnaissance satellite

Sports

Kim Min-jae wins Serie A's best defense award

Culture

Baritone Taehan Kim becomes the first Asian man to win the Queen Elizabeth Competition, one of the world's top three competitions

National Museum of Korea, hosts "Eyes on Us: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London." (Jun.02 to Oct.09)

2023 World DJ Festival Opens (Jun.02 to Jun.04)

Travel

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism-Korea Tourism Organization to launch 2023 Travel Month campaign (Jun.01 to Jun.30)

2023 Korea Accommodation Sale Festa (Regional: May.30 to Jun.01, National: Jun.02 to Jun. 30)

W4 05.22 ~ 05.28
General

19,080 new COVID-19 cases (As of May.24)

Success of the third launch of Nuri rocket

Culture

2023 Seoul Jazz Festival Opens (May.26 to May.28)

Travel

Guam closes airport as Typhoon Mawar hits

W3 05.15 ~ 05.21
General

21,797 new COVID-19 cases (As of May.17)

Teachers' day/Coming-of-Age day (May. 15)

Sports

Jin Young Ko wins LPGA's Founders Cup

2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina (Ma.20 to Jun.11)

Woo Sang-hyuk wins the 2023 Seiko Golden Grand Prix

Culture

Luxury brand Gucci hosts '2024 Cruise Fashion Show' at Gyeongbokgung Palace (May.16)

2023 Korea Craft Week opens

Travel

2023 Yeon Deung Hoe_Lotus Lantern Festival (May.19 to May.21)

W2 05.08 ~ 05.14
General

20,504 new COVID-19 cases (As of May.10)

Parents' Day (May.08)

Government declares that the disease has become endemic : All mandates lifted starting June

Sports

Celtic FC (Oh's team) wins early Scottish Premiership title

Culture

Ceramic festival opens (Ichon, Yeoju)

W1 05.01 ~ 05.07
General

20,146 new COVID-19 cases (As of May.03)

Labor Day (May.01)

Children's day (May.05)

Sports

S.S.C Napoli (Kim Min-jae's team) wins early Serie A title

2023 LoL Mid-Season Invitational (May.02 to May.21)

Culture

Premium art fair 'Art Busan 2023' opens (May.05 to May.07)

Travel

SEOUL FESTA 2023 held (Apr.30 to May.07)

Abolished international travelers' customs declaration forms

April
W4 04.24 ~ 04.30
General

14,284 new COVID-19 cases (As of Apr.26)

Up to 9-day holiday including Labor Day - Children's Day (Apr.29 to May.07)

Sports

Held the 2023 National Living Sports Festival (Apr.27)

Culture

The 9th Palace Culture Festival, held at the Five Great Palaces (Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, Deoksugung Palace, and Gyeonghee Palace), Jongmyo, and Sajikdan (Apr.29 to May.07)

24th Jeonju International Film Festival (JEONJU IFF) Opens (Apr.27 to May.06)

W3 04.17 ~ 04.23
General

14,094 new COVID-19 cases (As of Apr.19)

Sports

Opening of the 61st Sports Week 2023 (Apr.23 to Apr.29)

Culture

Edward Hopper Exhibition 'On the Road' at the Seoul Museum of Art (Apr.20 to Aug.20)

Held cultural performance 'Feast of Blue Seasons, Blue House' to commemorate the 1st anniversary of the opening of the Blue House to the public (Apr.21 to 29)

Travel

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism selects K-tourism islands to visit (Geomun Island, Maldo-Myeongdo-Bangchuk Island, Baekryeong Island, Ulleung Island, and Heuksan Island)

Gyeonggi-do to launch 'EG Tour Bus' service for foreign tourists by the end of the year

W2 04.10 ~ 04.16
General

11,596 new COVID-19 cases (As of Apr.12)

Gangneung large wildfire outbreak (Apr.11)

High level of yellow dust from China affecting the entire nation

Authorities raise Monkeypox alert level to 'Warning'

Culture

Korea's longest-running art fair, '2023 Hwarang Art Festival', held at COEX (Apr.12 to 16)

Opening of the traditional cultural festival 'Gyeongbokgung Palace Starlight Tour' (Apr.15 to May.13)

Korea Council for the Arts, ARCO Museum of Art holds special exhibition 'Memory-Space' Apr.14 to Jul.23

W1 04.03 ~ 04.09
General

12,084 new COVID-19 cases (As of Apr.05)

Culture

14th Gwangju Biennale opens (Apr.07 to Jul.09)

The 18th Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music (SSF) (Apr.26 to May.07)

March
W4 03.27 ~ 04.02
General

11,039 new COVID-19 cases (As of Mar.29)

Sports

FIFA National Team Trials Korea vs. Uruguay (Mar.28)

2023 KBO League started (Apr.01~)

Culture

Tongyeong International Music Festival, Korea's largest classical music festival, opens (Mar.31 to Apr.09)

Musical 'The Phantom of the Opera' opens at Busan Dream Theater (Mar.25~Jun.18)

2023 Seoul Mobility Show (Seoul Motor Show), held at KINTEX in Ilsan, Korea (Mar.30 to Apr.09)

Travel

Government announces 60 billion won subsidy in vacation expenses for 1 million people to boost domestic economy (Mar.29)

Government Temporarily Exempts 22 Countries, Including Japan and Taiwan, from Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) (until Dec.31, 2024)

Korea-China flights resumed (Gimpo - Beijing, Gimpo - Shanghai)

W3 03.20 ~ 03.26
General

11,400 new COVID-19 cases (As of Mar.22)

Mask mandate for public transportation lifted

Sports

FIFA National Team Trials Korea vs. Colombia (Mar.24)

Culture

Musical 'Mamma Mia' reopens at Chungmu Art Center, Seoul (Mar.24 to Jun.25)

Animation movie "Suzume no Tojimari" exceeds 3 million viewers in 20 days (released on Mar.08)

2023 F/W Seoul Fashion Week (Mar.15 to Mar.19)

Travel

Cherry blossom season (Mar.22 to Apr.08)

W2 03.13 ~ 03.19
General

9,934 new COVID-19 cases (As of Mar.15)

North Korea launches short-range ballistic missile

Sports

2023 KBO pre-season game (Mar.13 to Mar.28)

Korea vs. China game of Group B, 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC)

Son Heung-min wins 'Goal of the Year' at the London Football Awards

Culture

Musical 'Cats' to tour 11 cities in Korea from March 17 (Gyeongju, Incheon, Daegu, etc.)

Travel

China resumes issuing tourist visas to South Koreans

W1 03.06 ~ 03.12
General

10,890 new COVID-19 cases (As of Mar.08)

North Korea launches short-range ballistic missile

Sports

Jin Young Ko wins LPGA HSBC Women's World Championship

2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) open (Mar.08 to Mar.21)

2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC), Group B, Korea vs. Australia (Mar.09) / Korea vs. Japan (Mar.10) / Korea vs. Czech Republic (Mar.12)

2023 ISU World Short Track Championships, Seoul (Mar.10 to Mar.12)

Jae-ho Cho wins SK Rent-a-Car PBA-LPBA World Championship 2023

Culture

'Maurizio Cattelan' exhibition in LEEUM Art Museum exceeds 100,000 visitors (Jan.31 to Jul.16)

Travel

Seoul to provide 5 million won in employment support for inbound travel agencies

February
W4 02.27 ~ 03.05
General

7.561 new COVID-19 cases (As of Mar.01)

Samiljeol (Independence movement day)

Culture

2023 First Art Fair ‘Busan International Gallery Art Fair (BAMA)’ held at BEXCO (Mar.02 to Mar.05)

Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture held the '1st Seoul Arts Awards' ceremony

K Auction and If Children hold a special charity auction for children in Türkiye

Travel

Government lifts COVID-19 PCR obligations for travelers arriving from China

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism/Korea Tourism Organization, newly selected 5 'Night Tourism Specialized Cities' (Busan, Daejeon, Gangneung, Jeonju, and Jinju City)

W3 02.20 ~ 02.26
General

10,845 new COVID-19 cases (As of Feb.22)

1 year of Russian invasion of Ukraine

Sports

2023 K League 1 Kickoff (Feb.25 to Nov.12)

A total of 101,632 spectators in 6 K-League matches, attracting the largest number of spectators ever

Culture

The movie ‘The First Slam Dunk’, a Japanese animation, recorded the 2nd place for the first time in domestic box office history

The National Library of Korea holds a special exhibition commemorating the 1st anniversary of Lee O-ryeong (Lee O-ryeong's Book) (Feb.25 to Apr.23)

The 12th 'Seoul International Sculpture Festa' held at COEX (Mar.02 to Mar.05)

W2 02.13 ~ 02.19
General

12,519 new COVID-19 cases (As of Feb.15)

COVID-19 Vaccination for Infants and Children

North Korea launches ballistic missile over East Sea

Culture

Concert commemorating the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Seoul Arts Center (Feb. 14 to 24)

K-Illustration Fair Seoul 2023, held at COEX (Feb.16 to 19)

The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea Memorial Hall hosts the 104th anniversary of the 3.1st Paragraph Exhibition 'Declare We are an Independent Country'

W1 02.06 ~ 02.12
General

14,664 new COVID-19 cases (As of Feb.08)

Ended 'Disaster Text' notifications for COVID-19 cases

7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkiye-Syria (Feb.06)

Sports

Lee Hae-in won the women's single free skating at the International Skating Union (ISU) Four Continents Championships

Culture

Seoul Museum of Arts and Crafts holds special exhibition of costumes by first-generation Korean fashion designers Choi Kyung-ja, Norano, and Andre Kim (Feb.07 to Apr.02)

The 1st Seoul International Art Expo (WAE), held at COEX (Feb.09 to 12)

String quartet 'Arete Quartet' wins 1st place at the Mozart International Competition

Travel

Government resumes issuing short-term visas from China

January
W5 01.30 ~ 02.05
General

16,862 new COVID-19 cases (As of Feb. 01)

Indoor mask mandate lifted (Jan. 30)

Sports

UFC Fight Night: 'Lewis vs. Spivak', 'Jung Da-un, Choi Doo-ho, Park Jun-yong' participated

Culture

Musical 'Jesus Christ Superstar' 5 city tour (Feb. 03 to Mar. 05)

Expanded support for the Culture Nuri Card (Integrated Cultural Voucher)

Travel

Closure of City Airport Terminal in Samsung-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

China PCR tests all arrivals from South Korea

W4 01.23 ~ 01.29
General

35,096 new COVID-19 cases (As of Jan. 25)

Culture

'Avatar: The Way of Water' becomes the first post-COVID-19 movie to reach 10 million viewers in Korea (Jan. 24)

Takashi Murakami's 'Murakami Zombie Vision' held at Busan Museum of Art (Jan. 26 to Mar. 12)

Soprano Han Ye-won won the first prize at the Tenervinas International Vocal Competition in Spain

Vienna Boys Choir in Korea, New Year's Concert Tour in 6 cities nationwide (Jan. 27 to Feb. 05)

Travel

Extension of restrictions on short-term visas departing from China in February

W3 01.16 ~ 01.22
General

29,816 new COVID-19 cases (As of Jan. 18)

Lunar New Year Holidays (Jan. 21 to 23)

New Year's Day substitute holiday (Jan. 24)

Sports

2023 LCK (League of legend Champions Korea) spring held (Jan. 18 to Apr. 9)

Culture

Opening of Miguel Chevalier 'Digital Beauty' media art exhibition (Jan. 18 to Feb. 11)

Gangwon Inje 'Smelt Festival (Jan. 20 to 29)', Pyeongchang 'Daegwallyeong Snow Flower Festival (Jan. 20 to 29)'

Travel

Free PCR tests at 6 highway rest areas nationwide for Lunar New Year holidays

W2 01.09 ~ 01.15
General

43,953 new COVID-19 cases (As of Jan. 11)

3.7 earthquake off the coast of Ganghwa Island

Sports

Kwon Soon-woo won the 2nd tennis tournament in Adelaide International on the Australian ATP Tour

Siwoo Kim wins Sony Open in Hawaii PGA

Culture

‘Elementary school cellist’ Kim Jeong-ah wins the cello category at the ‘Young Tchaikovsky International Competition’

Michael Bolton concert held in Korea (Jan. 14 to 15)

Musical 'Beethoven; Beethoven Secret' premiere in Korea (Jan. 12 to Mar. 26)

Travel

China suspends short-term visa issuance for Koreans

Opening of 'Korea Grand Sale', a shopping culture and tourism festival (Jan. 12~Feb. 28)

W1 01.02 ~ 01.08
General

64,106 new COVID-19 cases (As of Jan. 4)

3.7 earthquake off the coast of Ganghwa Island

Culture

‘Insa Art Week’ (IWA 2023), a New Year’s art festival, held in Insa-dong, Seoul (Jan. 4 to 15)

Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, '2023 New Year's offline Concert' held at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall after 3 years since the outbreak (Jan. 4)

The size of the Korean art market in 2022 will exceed 1 trillion won for the first time in history, a 37.2% increase from the previous year

The Korean government provides the largest amount of financial support (KRW 790 billion) to foster K-content

Director Park Chan-wook's 'Decision to leave' was nominated in 10 Asian Film Awards (AFA) categories, recording the most nominations

Travel

Gangwon Hwacheon 'Trout Festival (Jan. 7 to 29)', Pyeongchang 'Trout Festival (Dec. 30 2022 to Jan. 29, 2023)' held

Vacation Fund for Workers project application period (Jan. 2 to exhausted)

December
W4 12.26 ~ 01.01
General

71,427 new COVID-19 cases (As of Dec. 28th)

New Year Holiday (Jan. 01, 2023)

South Korea mandates PCR testing when entering Korea from China

Culture

Avatar : The way of water tops the box office for 3 consecutive weeks since the release (Dec. 14), exceeding 7M viewers

K-League photo exhibition 'TURN THINGS AROUND' held (Dec. 29th to Dec. 31st)

Travel

Croatia to use EURO from 2023

Seoul Metropolitan Government provides KRW 1.4 billion KRW to 200 travel agencies located in Seoul

W3 12.19 ~ 12.25
General

75,744 new COVID-19 cases (As of Dec. 21st)

Christmas (Dec. 25th)

Sports

2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup finals (Dec. 19th)

Culture

Opening of the 21st '2022 Seoul Design Festival' (Dec. 20th to Dec. 23rd)

'2022 Seoul Lantern Festival' hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization (Dec.19th to Dec. 30th)

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism budget for 2023 confirmed at 6,740.8 billion KRW

Travel

India, China, Japan, and Korea travelers to be tested for COVID-19

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea designates travel bans such as Iraq, Ukraine, and Somalia

W2 12.12 ~ 12.18
General

70,154 new COVID-19 cases (As of Dec. 14th)

Sports

National Curling Mixed Doubles Team Wins Canadian Gold Line Mixed Doubles Championship

Hwang Seon-woo wins the men's 200m freestyle at the 2022 FINA Short Course World Swimming Championships

Culture

The National Ballet's 'Nutcracker' opens at the Seoul Arts Center on the 17th (Dec.17th to Dec. 25th)

Busan Fireworks Festival attracts 700,000 visitors (Dec. 17th)

Opening of the musical Moulin Rouge (Dec. 16, 2022 to Mar. 05, 2023)

2022 SEOUL LIGHT DDP openings (Dec. 18, 2022 to Jan. 01, 2023)

Travel

2022 Seoul Tourist Day (Dec. 12th)

W1 12.05 ~ 12.11
General

65,253 new COVID-19 cases (As of Dec. 7th)

Sports

2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, Round of 16 Korea vs Brazil

Culture

Opening of musical Sweeney Todd (Dec. 01, 2022 to Mar. 05, 2023)

Albert Watson, photo exhibition held at Seoul Arts Center (Dec. 08, 2022 to Mar. 30, 2023)

Travel

Incheon selected as Korea’s 1st Night Tourism Specialized City

November
W4 11.28 ~ 12.04
General

57,079 new confirmed COVID-19 cases (Nov.30)

COVID-19 Living Treatment Center operation closed (~Nov.30)

Sports

2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, Group H Korea vs Ghana

2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, Group H Korea vs Portugal, Korea advanced to the round of 16

Culture

Korean mask dance registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

2022 MAMA AWARDS to be held in Osaka, Japan on the 29th and 30th

Asian art direct transaction market 2022 Busan International Art Fair (BIAF) opens (Dec.01~Dec.05)

Travel

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Tourism Organization hold '2022 Tourism Industry Digital Innovation Forum'

Ministry of Foreign Affairs lowers travel warnings for 24 countries including the US, UK and France

W3 11.21 ~ 11.27
General

59,089 new confirmed COVID-19 cases (Nov.23)

Black Friday (Nov.25)

Sports

2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup held (Nov.21~Dec.19)

2022 Qatar World Cup street cheering at Seoul Gwanghwamun Square, (Nov.24-Dec.3)

2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, Group H Uruguay vs Korea Republic

Culture

Seoul Cafe Show (Coffee Fair) held at COEX (Nov. 23-Nov. 25)

Singer Cho Yong-pil concert held at Olympic Park Gymnastics Stadium (Nov.26~Dec.04)

W2 11.14 ~ 11.20
General

55,437 new confirmed COVID-19 cases (Nov.16)

Korea's College Scholastic Ability Test (Nov.17)

Joint statement condemning the war in Ukraine by the leaders of the G20

COVID-19 vaccine concentration period (Nov.21~Dec.18)

Sports

Kim Ye-rim won the NHK Trophy at the 5th International Skating Union (ISU) Senior Grand Prix

Kim Min-seon won the women's 500m in the 1st and 2nd rounds of the International Skating Union (ISU) Speed Skating World Cup

Culture

2022 G-STAR (G-Star) International Game Exhibition held at BEXCO, Busan (Nov.17~Nov.20)

2022 Seoul Dance Festival, held at Arko Arts Theater (Nov.18~Nov.25)

W1 11.07 ~ 11.13
General

55,365 new confirmed COVID-19 cases (November 9)

North Korea launches ballistic missile into East Sea

Sports

Korean professional baseball, SSG Landers wins 2022 KBO postseaso

Shin Jin-seo, 9-dan, won the 2022 Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance World Baduk(Go) Masters

Culture

16-year-old cellist Jaemin Han wins the 2022 Yun Isang International Music Competition

Tenor Son Ji-hoon won the first prize at the Montserrat Cabaye International Vocal Competition, soprano Yang Ho-young won the second prize

The National Ballet of Korea performs and at the Seoul Arts Center (Giselle Nov.11~Nov.13, Triple Bill Nov.18~Nov.20)

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, 'Paik Nam June Effect' special exhibition held (Nov.10~Feb.26 2022)

Travel

Korea MICE Fair 2022 held (Nov.09~Nov.10)

October
W5 10.31 ~ 11.06
General

36,896 new COVID-19 cases (As of Nov. 02)

Halloween Day (Oct. 31)

Halloween Itaewon disaster, national mourning period (Oct. 31 to Nov. 05)

North Korea launches ballistic missiles into East and West Seas

The Korean won to US dollar exchange rate: 1,425 won per dollar

Sports

DRX wins League of Legends World Championship (LOL world)

Culture

Busan One Asia Festival (BOF)' held (Oct. 27 to Oct.30)

Travel

Government allows visa-free entry to Japan, Taiwan, Macau, etc.

Vacation Fund for Workers project recruiting additional 10,000 appliers

Closed some air routes in the East Sea due to North Korean missile launch

W4 10.24 ~ 10.30
General

34,987 new COVID-19 cases (As of Oct. 26)

Sports

Ga-young Kim wins professional billiards Huons LPBA Championship

Culture

The National Museum of Korea held the special exhibition 'Habsburg 600 years' (Oct. 23, 2022 to Mar. 01, 2023)

Lee Kun-hee Collection: Eternal Inheritance', first opening in Gyeongnam (Oct. 28, 2022 to Jan. 25, 2023)

Travel

Resumption of cruise travel, domestic entry/disembarkation tourism for foreign tourists

International passengers to reach 6 million in the third quarter of 2022

60 Vietnamese tourists who entered without a visa absconded

Busan City, National Geographic Traveler's '35 Best Destinations in 2023'

W3 10.17 ~ 10.23
General

25,431 new COVID-19 cases (As of Oct. 19)

The Korean won to US exchange rate: 1,424 won per dollar

The Japanese yen to US dollar exchange rate exceeds 150 yen per dollar

Sports

Professional Volleyball 2022-2023 V League held (Oct. 22, 2022 to Apr. 07, 2023)

Culture

2022 Seoul Design Festival held (Oct. 19 to Nov. 02)

Opening of the musical, Cirque du Soleil, New Alegria (Oct. 20, 2022 to Jan. 01, 2023)

W2 10.10 ~ 10.16
General

26,957 new COVID-19 cases (As of Oct. 12)

Hangul Day Alternative Holiday (Oct. 10)

Sports

Kim Ye-rim wins the figure stating challenger series ISU competition

Joo-Hyung Kim wins PGA Schreiners Children's Open

US Professional Baseball 2022 MLB Postseason (NLCS) held (Oct. 07 to Nov. 05)

Korean professional baseball to host 2022 KBO postseason (Otc. 13 to Nov. 09)

Professional Basketball 2022-2023 KBL held (Oct.15, 2022 to March 29, 2023)

Culture

Pianist Choi Young-sun, first Korean to win 'Lina Sala Gallo Piano Competition'

2022 Itaewon Global Village Festival held (Oct.15 to Oct.16)

Travel

Japan grants visa-free entry to 68 countries around the world

W1 10.03 ~ 10.09
General

28,648 new COVID-19 cases (As of Oct. 5th)

The Korean won to US dollar exchange rate: 1,418 won per dollar

Culture

2022 Public Design Festival, held at 70 locations nation-wide (Oct. 05 to Oct. 30)

2022 Busan International Film Festival (Oct. 05 to Oct. 14)

2022 Seoul International Fireworks Festival held in Yeouido Hangang Park

Travel

Duty-free shoppers exceed 1 million for the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19

September
W4 09.26 ~ 10.02
General

30,881 new COVID-19 cases (As of Sep. 28th)

Outdoor mask mandate lifted

Won/dollar exchange rate exceeded 1,440 won

Sports

Olympic men's soccer team evaluation match held (Uzbekistan)

League of Legends World Championship held (Sep .29 to Nov. 5th)

Professional Basketball 2022 KBL Cup Tournament held (Oct. 1st ~Oct. 8th)

Culture

Jarasum Jazz Festival to be held for the first time in 3 years since Corona

Autumn Palace Festival ‘Palace Culture Festival’ opens (Oct. 1st ~ Oct. 9th)

Travel

PCR test mandate after the arrival from abroad lifted

W3 09.19 ~ 09.25
General

33,009 new COVID-19 cases (As of Sep. 21st)

The lowest value of the yen in 24 years

Sports

Woo Sang-hyuk, World Athletics Federations Men's High Jump, World Ranking 1st in 2022

World Cup national team evaluation match (Costa Rica, Cameroon September 23rd ~ September 27th)

Culture

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Lee Kun-hee's overseas masterpiece exhibition (Gauguin, Dali, Monet, Chagall, Picasso, etc.)

W2 09.12 ~ 09.18
General

71,471 new COVID-19 cases (As of Sep. 14th)

Sports

Yoo Young wins the 2022 International Skating Union (ISU) Challenger Series 'US International Classic'

Culture

'Squid Game' receives 6 Emmy Awards (Best Director, Best Actor, etc.)

W1 09.05 ~ 09.11
General

72,646 new COVID-19 cases (As of Sep. 7th)

Chuseok holidays (Sep. 9th to Sep. 11th)

Chuseok Alternative Holiday (September 12)

Culture

2022 Kiaf Seoul (Korean International Art Fair) held

Queen Elizabeth II has died (September 8th)

Travel

Increased duty-free limit from $600 to $800 (September 6)

Unguided Japan package tour allowed

August
W5 08.29 ~ 09.04
General

81,573 new COVID-19 cases (As of Aug. 31st)

Typhoon 'Hinnamno' heading north to Korean peninsula

Sports

Korea team wins International Basketball Federation (FIBA) U-18 Asian Men's Championship

Korea team wins the 9th Asian Youth Championship U-18 Asian Men's Handball Championship

Culture

World's Top 3 Art Fair, 2022 Frieze Seoul (September 2nd to 5th)

First exhibition at the Blue House, special exhibition for disabled artists

Travel

Abolition of PCR test before entering Korea

W4 08.22 ~ 08.28
General

113,371 new COVID-19 cases (As of Aug. 24th)

KRW/dollar exchange rate exceeded 1,340 won

Culture

More than 7M people watched the movie 'Hansan'

W3 08.15 ~ 08.21
General

178,574 new COVID-19 cases (As of Aug. 17th)

Liberation Day (August 15, Monday)

Damages such as landslides and flooding caused by heavy rains in the Chungbuk region

Culture

Tribowl Jazz Festival (August 19th to 20th)

Travel

DMZ Peace Road' 11 routes fully opened

W2 08.08 ~ 08.14
General

137,241 new COVID-19 cases (As of Aug. 10th)

Heavy rain for the first time in 115 years, causing casualties and property damages

Sports

Spain Laliga and Italian Serie A season 2022-2023 started

Joohyung Kim wins PGA Wyndham Championship

Korea Women's Handball Team won the 9th Asian Youth Championship U-18 Asian Championship

2022 KOVO Cup Professional Volleyball Tournament (08.13 ~ 08.28)

Culture

2022 World DJ Festival held

Seoul Festa held (August 10-14)

Travel

The 7th Korea International Tourism Expo held (August 11-14)

Hong Kong relaxes mandatory quarantine for overseas travelers from 7 days to 3 days

W1 08.01 ~ 08.07
General

107,894 new COVID-19 cases (As of Aug. 3rd)

Korea's first lunar orbiter 'Danuri' succeeded in first communication

Sports

English Premier League (EPL), German Bundesliga, French Ligue 1 season 2022-2023 started

Travel

Gwanghwamun Square opens after 1 year and 9 months of closing

Ministry of Justice introduces Electronic Travel Authorization System (K-ETA) to block illegal stay of foreigners in Jeju Island

July
W4 07.25 ~ 07.31
General

88,384 new COVID-19 cases (As of July 27th)

No. 5 Typhoon 'Songda' hits north

Sports

The 2022 EAFF E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup) was held (July 19 - July 27), with Korea being runners-up.

Culture

The world's largest rock festival '2022 Lola Falluja' opens (July 28 - July 31) in Chicago

Travel

Korean Air resumes flights to Rome and Barcelona

W3 07.18 ~ 07.24
General

71,170 new COVID-19 cases (As of July 20th)

COVID-19 screening centers re-opened

4th vaccination for 50+ years olds started

Sports

Woo Sang-hyeok wins silver medal in Men's High Jump, 2022 World Championships in Athletics

W2 07.11 ~ 07.17
General

39,196 new COVID-19 cases (As of July 13th)

COVID-19 cases doubled (confirmed cases doubled within a week)

Sports

Tottenham Hotspur visited Korea, and had friendly matches with Sevilla and Team K League

Culture

2022 Boryeong Sea Mud Exhibition opens (Jul. 16th to Aug. 15th)

Travel

Increased intensity of PCR testing for travelers abroad within the past 24 hours before entering

W1 07.04 ~ 07.10
General

18,511 new COVID-19 cases (As of July 6th)

Exchange rate record the highest in 13 years (1,311 Korean Won)

Sports

2022 Women's Professional Volleyball Summer Match held (July 7 - July 10)

Jo Se-hyuk wins U14 Tennis Men's Singles, Wimbledon Tennis Tournament

Culture

The 26th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) held (July 7 - July 17)

'K Food Festival' at the Louvre Museum, Paris

Travel

Japan allows group travellers to enter

Korea Travel Association (KATA) prepares a compensation program for overseas travel safety support service cost

June
W4 06.27 ~ 07.03
General

9,595 new COVID-19 confirmed cases (June 29th)

President Yoon participates NATO summit

Sports

Chun In-gee captures LPGA championship

Korea's golf population is 5.64 million, renewed to the highest (10.2% of the population)

Travel

'Non-landing tourist flight' ends due to the resumption of international flights

W3 06.20 ~ 06.26
General

7,497 new COVID-19 confirmed cases (June 22nd)

Korea launches Nuri (KSLV-II) rocket successfully

Sports

Seon-woo Hwang wins silver medal in me's 200m freestyle at 2022 International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Championships in Budapest

Culture

Baek Hee-na’s picture book “Moon Pops” was selected in Honor Books in the category for Picture Book at the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards

Controversies over the musical ‘friend casting’

W2 06.13 ~ 06.19
General

7,994 new COVID-19 confirmed cases (June 15th)

'7-day quarantine' for COVID-19 confirmed cases extended by 4 weeks

Sports

2022 LCK (League of legend Champions Korea) Summer season begins

Culture

BTS announces temporary suspension of group music activities

Pianist Yunchan Lim becomes the youngest winner of the Van Cliburn Competition in the United States

Travel

2022 My Country Travel Expo’ held (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea Tourism Association)

W1 06.06 ~ 06.12
General

12,161 new COVID-19 confirmed cases (June 8th)

Memorial Day (June 6th, Monday)

Monkeypox designated as a class 2 legal infectious disease

Sports

World Cup soccer evaluation match held (June 2~June 14)

Team Korea loses in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Asian Football Federation (AFC) U23 Asian Cup

Culture

Chan-wook Park receives the prize given for best film director for his romance "Decision to Leave." at Cannes Film Festival

Song Kang-ho wins Best Actor Award at Cannes for his role in ‘Broker’

Crime City 2 surpasses 10 million for the first time since the pandemic

Travel

Removal of restrictions on the number of international flights

May
W5 05.30 ~ 06.05

9,898 new COVID-19 cases (As of June 1st)

2022 local election (June 1st)

2022 Traveling month campaign (June 2nd to June 30th)

4thW 05.23 ~ 05.29

18,816 new COVID-19 cases (As of May 25th)

COVID test relief for international travelers (Antigen test within 24 hours)

3thW 05.16 ~ 05.22

28,130 new COVID-19 cases (As of May 18th)

Korea-US summit held (May 21, 2022)

Japan exempts quarantine for vaccinated Koreans when entering

2thW 05.09 ~ 05.15

35,906 new COVID-19 cases (As of May 11th)

President Yoon Seok-yeol inauguration

Blue House opened to public

COVID-19 outbreak in North Korea

1thW 05.02 ~ 05.08

42,296 new COVID-19 cases (As of May 4th)

Children's day long weekend (May 5th)

More than 200,000 tourist visited Jeju on Children's day holidays

Parents' day, Buddha's birthday (May 8th)

Outdoor mask mandatory lifted

Chuncheon Lego Land open

April
W4 04.25 ~ 05.01

57,464 new COVID-19 cases (As of April 20th)

COVID-19 downgraded to class two infectious disease

4th vaccination for 60+ years olds kicked off

Food and beverages allowed in the indoor multiuse facilities (Theaters, Karaoke, public bath, etc.)

1 million tourists booking exceeded for the Blue House opening in advance

Korean LCC increases 'Guam' air routes

W3 04.18 ~ 04.24

90,825 new COVID-19 cases (As of April 20th)

Social distancing rules (social gatherings/curfew on facilities) all lifted

Korea-US joint exercise (April 18-April 28)

Pre-registration of the 4th vaccination for those over 60 years of age

US CDC lifts 'travel ban' advisory for 90 countries including South Korea

W2 04.11 ~ 04.17

148,417 new COVID-19 cases (As of April 13th)

Suspension of antigen tests in the COVID-19 screening clinics

Travel advisory for overseas and nation-wide travels lifted

W1 04.04 ~ 04.10

224,761 new COVID-19 cases (As of April 6th

Social gatherings of up to 10 people allowed, curfews on multiuse facilities to midnight

Flights to Hawaii from Korea resume after 25 months

Coupons for the '2022 KTOStay' issue

March
W4 03.28 ~ 04.03

320,675 new COVID-19 cases (As of March 30th)

New coronavirus "XE" Found

Vaccination for children aged 5-11 years old begins

COVID-19 patient allowed to see doctors in person

U.S. CDC lifts COVID-19 risk alert for cruise ship trip

W3 03.21 ~ 03.27

395,589 new COVID-19 cases (As of March 23rd)

Exemption from self-quarantine for overseas travel

Social gatherings of up to 8 people allowed

Pfizer vaccination pre reservation for kids aged 5 to 11

Saipan Supports Unlimited Cost of PCR Inspection for Korean Travelers

North Korea launches intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)

W2 03.14 ~ 03.20

621,617 new COVID-19 cases (As of March 16th)

Clinics and hospitals checks for COVID-19 with the rapid antigen tests

Reissue of special travel advisory for all countries/regions overseas travel

Korail expands the age from 25 to 29 for using Rail-ro discounts

Travel bubble travelers accumulated to exceed 100,000

W1 03.07 ~ 03.13

327,532 new COVID-19 cases (As of March 9th)

20th presidential election (March 9th)

Yoon Seok-Yul of People Power Party elected as the president of South Korea

International oil price exceeds $120

Large-scale wildfires in Uljin, Gyeongsangbuk-do and Samcheok, Gangwon-do

February
W4 02.28 ~ 03.06

198,802 new COVID-19 confirmed cases (March 2)

200,000 new COVID confirmed cases counted

Publicly used facilities entering time extended to 11:00PM

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea Tourism Organization promotes worker vacation support project

W3 02.21 ~ 02.27

170,006 new COVID-19 confirmed cases (February 23)

Russia invades Ukraine (February 24)

Czech Republic, vaccinated persons can enter without PCR test

Saipan surpasses 10,000 Korean travelers after travel bubble

W2 02.14 ~ 02.20

93,127 new COVID-19 confirmed cases (February 16)

100,000 new COVID-19 confirmed cases counted

U.S. CDC raises Korea travel advisory to level 4

Closing of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

W1 02.07 ~ 02.13

54,122 new COVID-19 confirmed cases (February 9)

1 month extension of special travel advisory for all countries and regions

France allows vaccinated travelers to enter without PCR testing

Korean government enforces travel ban to 'Ukraine'

Philippines exempts quarantine for vaccinated foreign travelers

January
W5 01.31 ~ 02.06

Lunar New Year holidays (January 31st to February 2nd)

The 24th Beijing Winter Olympics started (February 4 - February 20)

22,904 new COVID-19 cases (As of February 2nd)

More than 210,000 visitors to Jeju during the Lunar New Year holiday

W4 01.24 ~ 01.30

14,514 new COVID-19 cases (As of January 26th)

T'way Air resumes service to Saipan

Singapore's quarantine-free travel bubble restarted

W3 01.17 ~ 01.23

6,601 new COVID-19 cases (As of January 19th)

19 new areas selected for Tour Dure (Busan, Incheon, Gwangju, etc.)

W2 01.10 ~ 01.16

4,162 new COVID-19 cases (As of January 12th)

Started prescribing the oral antiviral for treatment of COVID-19

'Ministry of Foreign Affairs reissues 'Special Travel Advisory' for overseas travel in all countries

"Quarantine pass" discontinued for marts and department stores in Seoul area

W1 01.03 ~ 01.09

4,123 new COVID-19 cases (As of January 5th)

2nd COVID-19 emergency relief fund (January 6th)

December
W4 12.27 ~ 01.02

5,409 new confirmed COVID-19 cases (December 29)

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport promotes expansion of travel bubble

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism establishes 'Tourism Development Basic Plan' such as win-win, smart, sustainable tourism

Korean government starts paying 'Quarantine subsidies' to small businesses

W3 12.20 ~ 12.26

6,913 new confirmed COVID-19 cases (December 22)

Temporary suspension of travel bubble with Singapore (December 23)

KTOStay nationwide 1st coupons issued (Nov. 9th to Dec. 23rd)

Korea Tourism Organization declares 'Tourism industry ESG joint practice' with tourism-related private associations

Israeli government bans travel to 10 countries, including the US, Italy and Germany

W2 12.13 ~ 12.19

7,622 new confirmed COVID-19 cases (December 15)

Implementation of the "quarantine pass" for restaurants and cafes, Non-vaxxed are only allowed alone

Gatherings limited to four people nationwide

Extension of special travel advisory. 10-day self-quarantine required for overseas arrivals

Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA) extends subsidies for 2022 January travel bubble

W1 12.6 ~ 12.12

7,100 new confirmed COVID-19 cases (December 8)

National Association of Tourism Organizations, Resolution to Spread Low-Carbon Eco-Friendly Travel

Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA) extends subsidies for 2022 January travel bubble

November
W5 11.29 ~ 12.5

5,262 new confirmed COVID-19 cases (December 1st)

First 'Omicron' confirmed case in Korea

Air Busan to operate 7 non-landing international tourist flights in December

10 days of self-quarantine due to Omicron

W4 11.22 ~ 11.28

3,937 new confirmed COVID-19 cases (November 24th)

All kindergardens, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools return to on-campus

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism provids 180 billion won in financial support for industries not eligible for loss compensation, such as travel.

WHO designates new COVID strain Omicron as 'variant of concern'

Korea bans foreign arrivals from eight African countries over omicron

W3 11.15 ~ 11.21

3,290 new confirmed COVID-19 cases (November 17th)

South Korea signs travel bubble agreement with Singapore

Korea-Japan tourism authorities agreed to “invigorate tourism and expand exchanges” (November 17th)

W2 11.8 ~ 11.14

2,520 new confirmed COVID-19 cases (November 10th)

KTOStay nationwide 1st coupons issued (Nov. 9th to Dec. 23rd)

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism operates '2021 traveling month' for 3 weeks

Gangwon-do resumes Peace and Security Tourism after 2 years

Ministry of Foreign Affairs...special travel advisory extended until December 13th

W1 11.1 ~ 11.7

'Living with Corona' started (November 1st)

80% of Koreans vaccinated with the first doze

2,480 new confirmed COVID-19 cases (November 3rd)

he Korean government resumes 9 consumption coupons including dining out and travel

KTOStay regional coupons issued (Nov. 1st to Nov. 3rd)

Thailand initiates quarantine-free travel pass

October
W4 10.25 ~ 10.31

Halloween (October 31)

COVID-19 confirmed cases decreased for 3 weeks in a row... 46% decreased compared to September

Korean government announces booster shot for Jansen (Johnson&Johnson) vaccinated people

Dokdo surpasses 2.06 million visitors after 16 years of opening

Thailand exempts self-quarantine for vaccinated travelers from 46 countries, including South Korea

W3 10.18 ~ 10.24

78.4% 1st doze vaccinated, 66.9% fully vaccinated for COVID-19

1,441 COVID-19 confirmed cases (as of October 20th)

Social distancing : Metropolitan areas: Level 4, Non-metropolitan areas: Level 3

October 18th: Private gatherings allowed up to 8 people in the metropolitan areas. Restrictions lifted in non-metropolitan areas

Teenagers aged 16-17 and pregnant women begin immunization against COVID-19

W2 10.11 ~ 10.17

Hangeul Day holidays (3 days long weekend)

Interpark signs a memorandum of understanding to sell 70% of its stake to Yanolja (October 14)

Singapore 9 countries travel bubble implementation…The second country after Saipan

White House Announces Entry Allowance for Foreigners Who Have Completed Vaccinations From November

American Travel Association conducts tour to develop Korean tourism products

W1 10.04 ~ 10.10

National Foundation Day holidays (3 days long weekend)

77.0% 1st doze vaccinated, 55.2% fully vaccinated for COVID-19

2,425 COVID-19 confirmed cases (as of October 6th)

Social distancing : Metropolitan areas: Level 4, Non-metropolitan areas: Level 3

Private gatherings limited to 6 people

143 new resident business selected for '2021 Tour Dure'

'VeryGoodTour' started selling European countries tour package after 1 year and 10 months. 851 bookings within 3 days

Hanjin Tour confirms European package kickoff (October 2nd: Switzerland, October 4th: France)

September
W4 09.27 ~ 10.03

87,331 tourists visited Jeju over the two days of National Foundation Day

Tourism fund debt approaching 2 trillion won

77% of Korean citizens completed the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (As of October 3rd)

Lottetour successful re-launches European countries travelling package after 1 year and 6 months of COVID-19 break

W3 09.20 ~ 09.26

Chuseok holidays (up to 5 days including weekends)

70.6% of Korean citizens completed the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 42.9% fully vaccinated

1,716 New Confirmed Cases (September 22nd)

Social distancing level: (Metropolitan areas : 4, Non-metropolitan areas: 3)

The number of reservations was the highest since the travel bubble was implemented.
(T-mon Saipan Package sold out for 1,200 people)

Airline stock prices rise rapidly due to the increase of vaccine inoculation and the travel bubble
(AS of September 23rd 11:00 AM, KAL by 4.10%, ASIANA by 11.55%)

W2 09.13 ~ 09.19

Over 4,000 people booked for Saipan travel package

Ministry of Foreign Affairs extends overseas travel advisory until October 13

Non-landing tourist flight surpasses 20,000 in 9 months

Space X capsule with All-civilian spaceflight for 4 days

The vaccination rate exceeds 70% in Korea

W1 09.06 ~ 09.12

61.3% of Korean citizens completed the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 37.0% fully vaccinated

2,047 New Confirmed Cases (September 8th)

Social distancing level: (Metropolitan areas : 4, Non-metropolitan areas: 3)

Inquiry and application for the 5th COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund

Daegu city offers 270 public quarantine related jobs to local tourism industry workers and job seekers

Gwangju city supports 'Travel industry life stabilization fund' for travel companies located in Gwangju

Biden administration extends Trump-era travel ban to North Korea for another year until next August

August
W5 08.30 ~ 09.05

57.0% of Korean citizens completed the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 31.5% fully vaccinated (As of September 1st)

1,956 New Confirmed Cases (As of September 1st)

Social distancing level: (Metropolitan areas : 4, Non-metropolitan areas: 3)

T-Way airline starts selling tickets to Guam
Vaccinated or PCR negative test result holders are exempted from the quarantine

US withdraws from Afghanistan (August 31st)

W4 08.23 ~ 08.29

Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju, selected as a tourist destination by world travelers (TripAdvisor)

Jeju supports 100 billion won of Tourism Promotion Fund to companies in the tourism industry (August 23rd to September 10th)

Air, travel and leisure stocks rise after FDA approval of Pfizer vaccine

ASIANA starts domestic to international flights (Flying from Gimpo to Japan sky and landing in Jeju)

W3 08.16 ~ 08.22

47.1% of Korean citizens completed the first doze of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 21.0% fully vaccinated (As of August 18th)

2,151 New Confirmed Cases

Social distancing level: (Metropolitan areas : 4, Non-metropolitan areas: 3)

Korea Tourism Organization recruits companies participating in tourism crowdfunding (Until August 25)

Jeju tourists decreases to 20,000s due to the level 4 social distancing

Many airline and tourism industry companies are included in the group of companies with the highest debt

W2 08.09 ~ 08.15

2,000s new confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections (August 10)

Jeju’s cumulative number of tourists exceeds 7 million in 2021

Air Busan plans non-landing international tourist flights (September 11th, and 25th)

Busan beaches including Gwangalli and Haeundae close

W1 08.02 ~ 08.08

Summer Vacation Period

39.3% of Korean citizens completed the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 14.3% fully vaccinated (As of August 4th)

1,776 New Confirmed Cases

Social distancing level: 4 in the metropolitan areas and 3 in non-metropolitan areas

75.6% detection rate of variant virus / 73.1% of Delta variant (As of August 7th)

Tokyo Olympics Closing (August 8, 2021)

July
W4 07.26 ~ 08.01

Summer Vacation Period

5th disaster subsidy eligibility decided

Level 4 social distancing remains

Non-metropolitan areas implement level 3 social distancing

Yanolja launches express bus ticket booking service

Consumer Confidence Index (CCSI) fell for the first time in 7 months (down 7.1% from the previous month)

Korea 2Q 2021 GDP Growth 0.7%

112,729 Jeju visitors in July (13.3% increased from last year same period)

My Real Trip resumes overseas travel service : Hawaii, Saipan, Guam

51.0% out of all cases are confimed to be the delta variant

W3 07.19 ~ 07.25

1st dose COVID-19 vaccination rate: 32.1%, Fully vaccinated rate: 13.0% (As of July 21st)

1,838 new confirmed cases (as of July 21st)

Social distancing level : (Metropolitan: Lv.4, Rural area: Lv.1 to 2 / adjusting the level by each local governments)

2020 Tokyo Olympics start

"Vaccine tours" to the US launched

Jeju Air resumes flights between Incheon and Saipan from July 24th

First travel bubble departure: 6 passengers on the flight to Saipan

48.0% out of all cases are confirmed to be the delta variant

W2 07.12 ~ 07.18

Level 4 social distancing started in Seoul and metropolitan areas (July 12th)

Travel advisory on all countries and regions extended

33.9% out of all cases are confirmed to be the delta variant

W1 07.05 ~ 07.11

1st dose COVID-19 vaccination rate: 29.9%, Fully vaccinated rate: 10.8% (As of June 23rd)

1,257 new confirmed cases (as of July 7th)

Social distancing level : (Metropolitan: Lv.2, Rural area: Lv.1.5)

The current social distancing in the metropolitan area extended for an additional week (Maintaining level 2 quarantine measures)

Explosive confirmed cases recording 4 digits (July 6th)

23.3% out of all cases are confirmed to be the delta variant

June
W4 06.28 ~ 07.04

Korea and Saipan sign Mariana Islands travel bubble agreement

W3 06.21 ~ 06.27

1st dose COVID-19 vaccination rate: 29.3%, Fully vaccinated rate: 8.5% (As of June 23rd)

610 new confirmed cases (as of June 23rd)

variant virus confirmed cases in Korea: 2,225

Social distancing level : (Metropolitan: Lv.2, Rural area: Lv.1.5)

Hi-Air decides to start flights between Muan and Gimpo

W2 06.14 ~ 06.20

Reissue of travel advisory for overseas travel in all countries and regions

COVID-19 vaccination reaches 14M (accumulated)

Amazon executive chairman - Jeff Bezos successfully completes space travel

W1 06.07 ~ 06.13

COVID-19 vaccination reaches 10M (accumulated)

1st dose COVID-19 vaccination rate: 19%, Fully vaccinated rate: 4.5% (As of June 9th)

611 new confirmed cases (as of June 9th)

Social distancing level : (Metropolitan: Lv.2, Rural area: Lv.1.5)

May
W5 05.31 ~ 06.06

Janssen's vaccine pre-ordered for reserve forces and civil defense members of South Korea. 1 million people reservation fully booked within 18 hours

Reservation available for residual vaccines for adults over 30 years old

W4 05.24 ~ 05.30

1st shot of COVID-19 vaccine surpasses 10% of the total population

W3 05.17 ~ 05.23

Israel-Palestinian ceasefire agreement

W2 05.10 ~ 05.16

Israeli-Palestinian armed conflict

Greece exempts self-quarantine for those who are vaccinated or submitting a negative test from 7 countries including South Korea

W1 05.03 ~ 05.09

The government of South Korea exempts self-quarantine for those who have completed the second shot of COVID-19 vaccine when leaving the country (Excluding visitors to areas where the mutant virus is endemic)

April
W4 04.26 ~ 05.02

Guam exempts self-quarantine when submitting COVID-19 test negative result

W3 04.19 ~ 04.25

The government of South Korea contracts with Pfizer vaccines for additional 20 million people

W2 04.12 ~ 04.18

South Korea resumes AstraZeneca vaccine rollout for people over 30

W1 04.05 ~ 04.11

2021 South Korean by-elections held

Temporary suspension of AstraZeneca vaccination under the age of 60

March
W5 03.29 ~ 04.04
W4 03.22 ~ 03.28

President Moon Jae-in receives first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine

ModeTour sells all shares of its subsidiary company, FreeTour(JauTour)

W3 03.15 ~ 03.21
W2 03.08 ~ 03.14

AstraZeneca vaccination suspended in some European countries

W1 03.01 ~ 03.07

First death reported of a person who was vaccinated with AstraZeneca in South Korea

February
W4 02.22 ~ 02.28

South Korea vaccination roll-out begins

W3 02.15 ~ 02.21

South Korea to lift social distancing to level 2 for the metropolitan area, 1.5 for non-metropolitan areas

Thailand golf quarantine starts

W2 02.08 ~ 02.14
W1 02.01 ~ 02.07

Official declaration of military coup d'état in Myanmar... State adviser Aung San Suu Kyi detained

Hawaii exempts self-quarantine for visitors who submit negative COVID-19 test results

January
W4 01.25 ~ 01.31

Pharmaceutical company Janssen announces interim clinical results of COVID-19 vaccine (85% of efficacy rate)

Interpark Tour resumes sales of overseas travel products through home shopping

W3 01.18 ~ 01.24

Official inauguration of US President Joe Biden

W2 01.11 ~ 01.17
W1 01.04 ~ 01.10
December
W4 12.28 ~ 01.03

Korea reports the first new case of COVID-19 variants from the UK

The government of South Korea aims for herd immunity by the 3Q

The government of South Korea announces contract with Moderna for 20 million people of COVID-19 vaccine

W3 12.21 ~ 12.27

Seoul metropolitan area bans private gatherings of more than 5 people

The government of South Korea announces contract with Janssen/Pfizer for 16 million people of COVID-19 vaccine

W2 12.14 ~ 12.20

US vaccination roll-out begins

W1 12.07 ~ 12.13

Social distancing level upgraded to 2.5 in metropolitan areas, 2 in non-metropolitan areas, while Jeju remaining at 1.5

Special antivirus measures in effect for year-end holidays (Dec. 7th to Jan. 3rd)

World first person receives COVID vaccine in UK

Daily virus cases surpasses 1,000 in Korea

The government of South Korea announces imminent contract and securing of vaccine for 44 million people

November
W5 11.30 ~ 12.06

3Q GDP growth rate increased by 2.1% against the previous quarter.. The highest since 2009 3Q (3.0%)

Press release on South Korea's deal with AstraZeneca

W4 11.23 ~ 11.29

VeryGoodTour, travel agency opens reservations for trips abroad for post-pandemic

Social distancing level upgraded to 2 in metropolitan areas, 1.5 in Honam areas

Discount coupon program suspended temporarily (travel, lodging, Performance, exhibition, movie, physical education, etc.)

W3 11.16 ~ 11.22

Social distancing level upgraded to 1.5 in metropolitan areas

Pharmaceutical company Moderna announces interim results of COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial (94% of efficacy rate)

W2 11.09 ~ 11.15

Fines charged to mask rule violators

W1 11.02 ~ 11.08

Social distancing level changes to five-tier scheme

October
W4 10.26 ~ 11.01

Discount coupon program resumed (travel, lodging, Performance, exhibition, movie, physical education, etc.)

W3 10.19 ~ 10.25

Jeju Air begin international non-landing scenic flight services for local residents

W2 10.12 ~ 10.18

Nation wide social distancing level 2 lifted, down to level 1

W1 10.05 ~ 10.11

KTO's promotional video 'Feel the Rhythm of Korea' hits 260M in social media

September
W4 09.30 ~ 10.04

Chuseok (Thanks giving) holidays (Sep. 30th to Oct. 2nd)

Chuseok special countermeasures announced.. No exempt highway tolls during chuseok

W3 09.21 ~ 09.27

Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle/high schools started off-line school

Incheon airport terminal 1 duty free shop business right bidding failed in the first time in history

Russia allows Koreans to enter the country without VISA

W2 09.14 ~ 09.20

t'way air resumes flights from Incheon to Wuhan in 8 months

Social distancing level 2.5 lifted in metropolitan areas

W1 09.07 ~ 09.13

HDC Hyundai development company cancels the acquisition contract with Asiana Airlines

Eastar Jet lays off 640 employees

Ministry of Employment and Labor's support period for employment maintenance subsidies for 8 industries, including travel and tourism transportation, has been expanded to 240 days per year

August
W5 08.31 ~ 09.06

COVID19 resurgence in European countries such as France, Spain, and UK etc.

Korea's economic growth rate -3.2% in the second quarter of this year...consecutively negative after the first quarter

W4 08.24 ~ 08.30

Social distancing upgraded to level 2.5 in metropolitan areas, 2.0 nationwide

Controversy on pornography posted on the online travel community 'TravelHolic'

W3 08.17 ~ 08.23
W2 08.10 ~ 08.16

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism - Korea Tourism Organization implemented 'KTOStay', 27 OTA participated (28 new COVID19 confirmed cases on Aug. 10th)

'KTOStay' temporarily suspended due to the spread of COVID19 (297 new COVID19 confirmed cases on Aug.19th)

Outbreak of cluster infection in metropolitan churches

Social distancing upgraded to level 2 in metropolitan areas

Independence day holidays Aug. 15th to Aug. 17th (Substitute holiday included - Aug. 17th)

The longest rainy season ever (Jun. 24th to Aug. 16th - for 54 days)

W1 08.03 ~ 08.19
July
W4 07.27 ~ 08.02
W3 07.20 ~ 07.26

Jeju Air officializes the cancellation of the merger and acquisition of Eastar Jet

Aug. 17th declared as a temporary holiday (45 new COVID19 confirmed cases on Jul. 21st)

W2 07.13 ~ 07.19
W1 07.06 ~ 07.12

Travel agencies shutdown one after another. 612 travel agencies out of business in the 1st half of 2020

June
W5 06.29 ~ 07.05

6 European countries allow travelers from Korea to enter

2020 special travel week postponed and shortened (Jun. 20th~Jul. 19th to Jul. 1st~ Jul. 19th)

W4 06.22 ~ 06.28
W3 06.15 ~ 06.21
W2 06.08 ~ 06.14

4th school starting day (5~6th grades, 7th grade)

W1 06.01 ~ 06.07

3rd school starting day (3~4th grades, 8th grade, 10th grade)

May
W4 05.25 ~ 05.31

2nd school starting day (Kindergarten, 1~2nd grades, 9th grade, 11th grade)

Bucheon Coupang logistic center cluster infection

The Monetary Policy Board of the Bank of Korea lowers the Base Rate by 25 basis points, from 0.75% to 0.50%

China establishes Hong Kong national security laws

W3 05.18 ~ 05.24

1st school starting day (12th grade, schools with less than 60 12th graders)

W2 05.11 ~ 05.17
W1 05.04 ~ 05.10

A group infection from a club in Itaewon

April
W4 04.27 ~ 05.03
W3 04.20 ~ 04.26

3rd on-line school started (1~3rd grades)

W2 04.13 ~ 04.19

Covid-19 confirmed cases exceed 2 million worldwide

The Ministry of Justice/foregin Affairs suspends previously issued short-term Visas and Visa waiver programs for the countries that banned entry on South Koreans

The 21st general election

COVID-19 daily new cases under 50 for 7 consecutive days

More than 180 countries·regions ban entry from Korea

2nd on-line school started (4~6th grades, 7~8th grade, 10~11th grades)

W1 04.06 ~ 04.12

5 airline companies shut down international flights (Eastar Jet, T-way, Air Busan, Air Seoul, and Fly Gangwon)

Covid-19 death tolls exceed 100,000 worldwide

1st on-line school started (9th grade, 12th grade)

March
W5 03.30 ~ 04.05

Covid-19 confirmed cases exceed 1 million worldwide

W4 03.23 ~ 03.29

Eastar Jet shuts down all flights

Gimhae airport records 0 international flights, the first time in 44 years other than

W3 03.16 ~ 03.22

More than 150 countries·regions ban entry from South Korea

COVID-19 spreading in Italy fast, with over 30,000 confirmed cases and 2,000 deaths

Special entry procedures applied for all entry from abroad

The Monetary Policy Board of the Bank of Korea decides the base rate at 0.75%, first time in the 0s percent rate

W2 03.09 ~ 03.15

Travel industry, designated as the special employment support business area

The number of passengers using Incheon International Airport records the lowest in 17 years after SARS

New Virus Cluster emerges in metropolitan areas (Guro, Seongnam, and etc.)

Japan suspends Visa-waiver program for Koreans

Korea's Ministry of Justice/foreign affairs announce that all Japanese citizens are required to obtain new Visas to enter Korea and the Visa-waiver program is suspended

No international flights operated at Gimpo International Airport for the first time in 17 years.

W1 03.02 ~ 03.08

South Korea passes 5,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19

Delay of opening of daycare centers, elementary, middle and high schools nationwide (1st: March 9th→2nd: March 23rd→3rd: April 6th)

February
W4 02.24 ~ 03.01

South Korea passes 1,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19

W3 02.17 ~ 02.23

COVID-19 group infection in Shincheonji, Church of Jesus.. Spreading in Daegu·Gyeongbuk area

First COVID-19 death in Korea (Cheongdo Daenam hospital, Gyeongbuk)

Some countries including Israel and Jordan announce an entry ban for Koreans

The emergency management system begins in the aviation industry such as wage reduction, and unpaid leaves.

W2 02.10 ~ 02.16

3rd dispatch of a chartered plane for the transportation of Korean residents in Wuhan (144 people returning home)

W1 02.03 ~ 02.09

Visa-free entry to Jeju Island temporarily suspended

January
W4 01.27 ~ 02.02

COVID-19 (Wuhan Virus), the first outbreak of secondary and tertiary infection in Korea

2nd evacuation plane sent to bring home Koreans nationals, family members (1st 366, 2nd 326 people returning home)

W3 01.20 ~ 01.26

Lunar New Year Holidays (1.24~1.27)

W2 01.13 ~ 01.19

First confirmed case of novel coronavirus (Pneumonia from Wuhan) in South Korea

W1 01.06 ~ 01.12

Ukrainian airliner crashes in Iranian attack, killing all on board

China reports first death from novel coronavirus (Wuhan)

Philippines, Taal Volcano Eruption

December
W5 12.30 ~ 01.05

China Southern Airlines leaves SkyTeam

W4 12.23 ~ 12.29
W3 12.16 ~ 12.22

Jeju Air acquires Easter Jet

W2 12.09 ~ 12.15
W1 12.02 ~ 12.08
November
W4 11.25 ~ 12.01
W3 11.18 ~ 11.24

Fly Gangwon made its maiden flight from Yangyang to Jeju

Hong Kong local elections, pro-democracy camp wins 86% of the seats

W2 11.11 ~ 11.17
W1 11.04 ~ 11.10

First Hong Kong demonstrator killed

Trip Advisor and Trip.com Group Announce Strategic Partnership

Hyundai Development Consortium selected as the preferred bidder to acquire Asiana Airlines

October
W4 10.28 ~ 11.03
W3 10.21 ~ 10.27

Cracks in Boeing B737NG found

W2 10.14 ~ 10.20
W1 10.07 ~ 10.13
September
W5 09.30 ~ 10.06
W4 09.23 ~ 09.29

Australia's abnormal high temperature and wildfires spread

W3 09.16 ~ 09.22
W2 09.09 ~ 09.15

Chuseok Holidays (Sep. 12 to Sep. 15)

2019 Autumn Travel Week begins (9.12-9.29)

W1 09.02 ~ 09. 08
August
W4 08.26 ~ 09.01
W3 08.19 ~ 08.25
W2 08.12 ~ 08.18
W1 08.05 ~ 08.11

Hong Kong to paralyze air and public transport by general strike

July
W5 07.29 ~ 08.04

The intensive reporting on Gangneung peak season overcharged price controversy

W4 07.22 ~ 07.28
W3 07.15 ~ 07.21
W2 07.08 ~ 07.14
W1 07.01 ~ 07.07

Japan's economic retaliation measures on the court's ruling on compensation for forced labor

Japanese products boycott spread

A video of a Korean man beating his Vietnamese wife spreads

June
W4 06.24 ~ 06.30

NAVER Launches the beta version of Package MetaSearch

W3 06.17 ~ 06.23
W2 06.10 ~ 06.16

Hana tour sued by Hong Kong based partner

W1 06.03 ~ 06.09
May
W4 05.27 ~ 06.02

Incheon Airport opens arrival duty-free shops

Hungarian cruise ship with Korean package tour sank

W3 05.20 ~ 05.26
W2 05.13 ~ 05.19
W1 05.06 ~ 05.12
April
W5 04.29 ~ 05.05
W4 04.22 ~ 04.28

2019 spring weekly travel begins (4.27~5.12)

GDP growth in 1Q 2019 hits the lowest in 41 quarters (-0.3%)

W3 04.15 ~ 04.21

Kumho Group decides to sell Asiana Airlines

Fire broke out at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

A series of coordinated terrorist suicide bombings in Sri Lanka, killing more than 200 people

W2 04.08 ~ 04.14

Cho Yang-ho, chairman of Hanjin Group dies

W1 04.01 ~ 04.07

Large wildfires occur in Gangwon-do. Declaration of special disaster areas in Goseong, Sokcho, Gangneung, Donghae, and Inje

March
W4 03.25 ~ 03.31

Kumho Asiana Group Chairman Park Sam-koo resigns

Hong Kong protests against the Fugitive Offenders amendment bill

W3 03.18 ~ 03.24
W2 03.11 ~ 03.17

Ethiopian Airline's Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft crashed, killing all 189 passengers

Eastar Jet grounds Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircrafts

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport issues new licenses to three low-cost airlines (Fly Gangwon, Aero K, Air PREMIA)

W1 03.04 ~ 03.10

The longest/worst air pollution

February
W4 02.25 ~ 03.03

The 2nd North Korea-United States summit, held in Hanoi, Vietnam

W3 02.18 ~ 02.24
W2 02.11 ~ 02.17
W1 02.04 ~ 02.10

Lunar New Year holidays (2.2~2.6)

January
W5 01.28 ~ 02.03

Southeast Asia countries' air pollution crisis including Thailand

Yellow Balloon Tour Co. KOSDAQ listed

W4 01.21 ~ 01.27

The Bank of Korea (BOK) announces the achievement of 30,000 dollars in gross national income (GNI) in 2018

Japan flies the patrol flight to threat, Ministry of National Defense releases video on the incident

W3 01.14 ~ 01.20

'Yanolja (야놀자)', the domestic accommodation reservation OTA launches international hotel booking service

W2 01.13 ~ 01.19
W1 01.07 ~ 01.13
December
W4 12.24 ~ 12.30

Christmas

Increased number of confirmed cases of measles after overseas travel (Europe, Southeast Asia, etc.)

W3 12.17 ~ 12.23

Protest from Japan regarding the aiming of patrol aircraft

W2 12.10 ~ 12.16
W1 12.03 ~ 12.09
November
W4 11.26 ~ 12.02

Sim Myung-Seop, the CEO of 'Good Choice(여기어때)' resigned and under prosecutor's investigation on suspicion of distributing pornography

W3 11.19 ~ 11.25
W2 11.12 ~ 11.18
W1 11.05 ~ 11. 11
October
W5 10.29 ~ 11.04

Lion Air's Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft crashed, killing all 157 passengers

W4 10.22 ~ 10.28

Typhoon Yutu hits Saipan and the Philippines etc.

The reopening of Boracay, Philippines, which was closed due to environmental pollution

W3 10.15 ~ 10.21
W2 10.08 ~ 10.14
W1 10.01 ~ 10.07

Top Travel agency shut down

September
W4 09.24 ~ 09.30

Chuseok holidays (9/22~9/26)

Scale 7.5 Earthquakes and tsunamis occurred in Indonesia Sulawesi Island

NHN Entertainment acquires 'Doctor Tour (여행박사)'

W3 09.17 ~ 09.23

3rd Pyongyang Inter-Korean Summit

W2 09.10 ~ 09.16
W1 09.03 ~ 09. 09

6.7 magnitude earthquake in Sapporo, Japan

The first patient diagnosed with MERS in Korea

Small and medium-sized travel agencies, such as 'e-Onnuri (e온누리)' and 'TheBetter (더좋은)' gone bankrupted

August
W4 08.27 ~ 09.02

Nationwide heavy rain (8/26 - 9/4)

W3 08.20 ~ 08.26

Typhoon Soulik penetrates the Korean Peninsula

2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games (8/18-9/2)

W2 08.13 ~ 08.19

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure & Transportation sanctions JIN Air on its new routes, etc

Turkish lira sharply plummeted

W1 08.06 ~ 08.12

Korean Air and Asiana Airlines excluded from local tax reduction

Kilauea volcano eruption in Hawaii stopped

July
W5 07.30 ~ 08.05

2019 Minimum Wage Fixation Notice (8,350 won)

6.4 magnitude earthquake in Lombok Island, Indonesia

Record heat wave (Record 40.3 degrees Hongcheon, record high temperature for official observation)

W4 07.23 ~ 07.29
W3 07.16 ~ 07.22
W2 07.09 ~ 07.15
W1 07.02 ~ 07.08

Heavy rain in southwestern Japan

June
W4 06.25 ~ 07.01

Implementation of 52-hour work week for workplaces with 300 or more employees

Asiana Airlines In-flight Food Delay

W3 06.18 ~ 06.24

The first-ever summit between the U.S. and North Korea is held, and announces a joint agreement

5.9 magnitude earthquake in Osaka, Japan

W2 06.11 ~ 06.17

Russia World Cup opens

The 7th local election

W1 06.04 ~ 06.10
May
W4 05.28 ~ 06.03

The second inter-Korean summit

W3 05.21 ~ 05.27
W2 05.14 ~ 05.20
W1 05.07 ~ 05.13

76 Yemeni refugees enter Jeju Island

April
W5 04.30 ~ 05.06

Kilauea volcano eruption, Hawaii

W4 04.23 ~ 04.29

The first Inter-Korean summit

Boracay of the Philippines closed due to environmental pollution

W3 04.16 ~ 04.22
W2 04.09 ~ 04.15

The senior vice president at Korean Air, Cho Hyun-min's 'Watercup rage' recording revealed

W1 04.02 ~ 04.08
March
W4 03.26 ~ 04.01
W3 03.19 ~ 03.25
W2 03.12 ~ 03.18
W1 03.05 ~ 03.11

PyeongChang Winter Paralympics opening (3/9-3/18)

February
W4 02.26 ~ 03.04
W3 02.19 ~ 02.25
W2 02.12 ~ 02.18

Lunar New Year Holidays (2/15~2/18)

PyeongChang Winter Olympics Opening (2/9-2/25)

W1 02.05 ~ 02.11

Asiana Airlines chairman, Park Sam Koo embroiled in sexual harassment scandal

6.4 magnitude earthquake in Huarlien region, Taiwan

Maldives national emergency declaration

January
W5 01.30 ~ 02.04
W4 01.23 ~ 01.29
W3 01.16 ~ 01.22
W2 01.09 ~ 01.15
W1 01.02 ~ 01.08
December
W4 12.25 ~ 12.31

Christmas

W3 12.18 ~ 12.24
W2 12.11 ~ 12.17
W1 12.04 ~ 12.10
November
W4 11.27 ~ 12.03
W3 11.20 ~ 11.26
W2 11.13 ~ 11.19

A bullet wounded North Korean soldier has defected to South Korea through JSA

A 5.4 magnitude earthquake in Pohang

A representative of Hana Tour agency embezzled customer money

W1 11.06 ~ 11.12

An incident of the CEO of Hana Tour subsidiary sexually harassing a female staff

October
W5 10.30 ~ 11.05

Korea-China relations improvement agreement announcement

Pyeongchang winter Olympics D-100 event

W4 10.23 ~ 10.29

The first anniversary of the candlelight rally

Ctrip, China’s largest OTA, relaunches South Korea travel packages

W3 10.16 ~ 10.22
W2 10.09 ~ 10.15
W1 10.02 ~ 10.08

Chuseok holidays (Including National foundation day of Korea, and Hangul Proclamation day)

September
W4 09.25 ~ 10.01

Hana Tour customers’ personal information leak

W3 09.18 ~ 09.24
W2 09.11 ~ 09.17

North Korea launches ballistic missile Hwasung-12 (KN-17)

W1 09.04 ~ 09 ~ 10

Temporary deployment of THAAD completed in Seongju, facing strong opposition from China

August
W4 08.28 ~ 09.03

North Korea’s sixth nuclear text

North Korea launched ballistic missile Hwasung-12

W3 08.21 ~ 08.27
W2 08.14 ~ 08.20

National liberation day, Pesticide Egg scandal

W1 08.07 ~ 08.13
July
W5 07.31 ~ 08.06
W4 07.24 ~ 07.30
W3 07.17 ~ 07.23
W2 07.10 ~ 07.16

Heavy rain damage in North Chungcheong province such as Cheongju

W1 07.03 ~ 07.09

North Korea announces the successful test-firing of an ICBM (Intercontinental ballistic missile)

June
W4 06.26 ~ 07.02
W3 06.19 ~ 06.25
W2 06.12 ~ 06.18
W1 06.05 ~ 06.11

Memorial day

May
W5 05.29 ~ 06.04
W4 05.22 ~ 05.28
W3 05.15 ~ 05.21

North Korea launches ballistic missile Hwasung-12 (KN-17)

W2 05.08 ~ 05.14

Presidential election of Moon Jae-in

W1 05.01 ~ 05.07
April
W4 04.24 ~ 04.30

Golden holidays in May (including Buddha's Birthday and Children's Day)

W3 04.17 ~ 04.23
W2 04.10 ~ 04.16
W1 04.03 ~ 04.09
March
W4 03.27 ~ 04.02
W3 03.20 ~ 03.26
W2 03.13 ~ 03.19

China prohibits travel agencies from selling tour packages to South Korea

W1 03.06 ~ 03.12

March 1st Independence Day

February
W4 02.27 ~ 03.05
W3 02.20 ~ 02.26
W2 02.13 ~ 02.19
W1 02.06 ~ 02.12
January
W5 01.30 ~ 02.05
W4 01.23 ~ 01.29

Lunar New Year Holiday

W3 01.16 ~ 01.22
W2 01.09 ~ 01.15
W1 01.02 ~ 01.08

Chinese government prohibits chartered plane flying to Korea

December
W4 12.26 ~ 01.01

Murder/kidnapping of Korean people in the Philippines

M5.6 Earthquake in Fukushima

Istanbul night club shooting

W3 12.19 ~ 12.25

Diplomat in Chile sexually assaulting underage girls caught on camera

Korean Air in-flight assault

W2 12.12 ~ 12.18

US Federal Reserve raises interest rates

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) continues to spread nationwide

W1 12.05 ~ 12.11

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announces '2017 Travel/Tourism Weekly Report' Winter: 1/14~1/30, Spring: 4/29~5/14, Fall: 10/21~11/5)

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) continues to spread nationwide

"President Park Geun-hye's impeachment passed by the National Assembly / suspension of presidential duties"

7th national candlelight rally

November
W4 11.28 ~ 12.04

Big fire destroys Seomun Market in Daegu

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) continues to spread nationwide

6th national candlelight rally for resignation of President Park

W3 11.21 ~ 11.27

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) continues to spread nationwide

5th national candlelight rally for resignation of President Park (Biggest gathering yet)

W2 11.14 ~ 11.20

College entrance exam

4th national candlelight rally for resignation of President Park

W1 11.07 ~ 11.13

Donald Trump elected as US President

National candlelight rally of 1million for resignation of President Park

October
W5 10.31 ~ 11.06

Declaration of the state of affairs by Universities, candelight rally

W4 10.24 ~ 10.30

JTBC's report on 'Soon-sil Choi's access to confidential presidential documents and speeches'

Declaration of college city-government, candelight rally

W3 10.17 ~ 10.23

Announcement of additional disaster area caused by Typhoon 'Chaba'

W2 10.10 ~ 10.16
W1 10.03 ~ 10.09

4349th Korea's National Foundation Day

Disaster caused by Typhoon 'Chaba'

September
W4 9.26 ~ 10.02

Railway/subway joint strike

Enforcement of Kim Young-ran Act'(Anti-Corruption and Bribery Prohibition Act

Seongju County finalized as site for THAAD

W3 9.19 ~ 9.25

M4.5 Earthquake in Gyeongju

Gyeongju announced as disaster area

W2 9.12 ~ 9.18

M5.8 Earthquake in Gyeongju

Chuseok

W1 9.05 ~ 9.11

Yoonsun Cho appointed as Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

5th nuclear weapon test run by North Korea

August
W5 8.29 ~ 9.04

Worldwide travel alert for Asian countries
1. Cholera outbreak in Korea
2. Measles outbreak at Kansai airport
3. Southeast Asia at state of emergency due to Zika virus
  - Malaysia reports first death caused by Zika virus
  - Over 200 people infected in Singapore with Zika viru

W4 8.22 ~ 8.28
W3 8.15 ~ 8.21
W2 8.08 ~ 8.14

RMB appreciation

W1 8.01 ~ 8.07

Special holiday season traffic measures taken on some 46% of summer travelers concentrated

Record high 191 thousand travelers departed from Incheon airport

China's commercial agency stopped issuing visa

July
W4 7.25 ~ 7.31

Jeju with some record high 60,000 tourists a day

W3 7.18 ~ 7.24

Munich terrorist shootings, Ansbach suicide bombing

Spooky rumors around unidentified gas leak in Busan & Ulsan, herds of ants in the Gwangalli beach

W2 7.11 ~ 7.17

Sokcho & Gangwon travel boomed due to Pokemon go effects

W1 7.04 ~ 7.10
June
W4 6.27 ~ 7.03

US dollar & Japanese Yen appreciated with Brexit determined (Inbound Japan Travel shrink),Pound sterling & Euro plummeted (Europe Travel Product sales peaked

Istanbul airport terror

W3 6.2 ~ 6.26
W2 6.13 ~ 6.19

Air Canada direct route between Incheon to Toronto launched

W1 6.06 ~ 6.12
May
W5 5.30 ~ 6.05
W4 5.23 ~ 5.29
W3 5.16 ~ 5.22
W2 5.08 ~ 5.15

2016 Spring Travel Week

W1 5.02 ~ 5.08

4 consecutive holidays, including Children’s day with May 6th designated as a temporary holiday

2016 Spring Travel week

April
W4 4.25 ~ 5.01

Worst fine dust density in April

W3 4.18 ~ 4.24
W2 4.11 ~ 4.17

Kumamoto earthquake in Japan

Two years after the Sewol ferry disaster

W1 4.04 ~ 4.10