Next great travel destination in Korea might just be a neighborhood bakery
Tourism in Korea was once defined by grand scale: ancient palaces in the capital, pristine coastal views in Jeju and sweeping peaks in national parks. But an ambitious nationwide project reveals a fundamental shift in how people choose to travel — placing humble local bakeries and affordable eateries above conventional sightseeing. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in collaboration…
Tourism in Korea has traditionally revolved around grand attractions like palaces in the capital, beaches in Jeju, and scenic national parks. However, a nationwide initiative is changing the landscape of travel preferences, with humble local bakeries and affordable eateries gaining prominence. The Tourism Ministry, in partnership with the Korea Tourism Organization, has unveiled the results of their "100x100 Project."
This initiative aimed to bypass traditional, institutional tourism curation by inviting 100 travel writers and journalists to nominate thousands of hidden gems across 100 different themes. Over 40,000 citizens then participated by casting over 1.5 million votes to determine Korea's top travel destinations. The most impressive standout of the national vote was Sungsimdang, a historic bakery located in the central city of Daejeon.
This bakery achieved the top individual venue ranking in a single category, surpassing world-class museums and imperial palaces. The bakery's success highlights a significant shift in modern travel trends - as travelers are increasingly seeking out unique, local experiences over traditional sightseeing.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
