Pikachu in hanbok: Pokémon powers up Korea's regional tourism drive
For millions of pop-culture enthusiasts around the world, catching ’em all is a lifelong pursuit. Now, Korea’s tourism authorities are betting that the world’s highest-grossing media franchise can help them capture the interest of a few million more international visitors. The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) signed a formal partnership with Pokémon Korea, Monday, to harness the global megabrand…
Korea's tourism officials have teamed up with Pokémon Korea to attract more international visitors to the country. The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and Pokémon Korea signed a formal partnership to leverage the global franchise's popularity for regional travel promotion. By linking Nintendo's beloved pocket monsters with local cultural landmarks, officials aim to distribute tourist traffic beyond Seoul and into the less-traveled provinces of the nation.
The centerpiece of this collaboration is the Pokémon Mega Festa 2026, a global celebration marking the 30th anniversary of the franchise's inception. From September 18th to October 11th, HiKR Ground in central Seoul will transform into a Pokémon-infested wonderland. The KTO's multi-story immersive travel center will be entirely taken over by Pokémon, with visitors navigating the venue's first three floors encountering custom exhibitions and photo zones featuring Pikachu dressed in traditional hanbok clothing.
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- Pikachu in hanbok: Pokémon powers up Korea's regional tourism drive koreatimes.co.kr
