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…
For millions of pop-culture fans worldwide, accumulating all Pokémon is a lifelong quest. Korea's tourism agencies are now hoping that the world's most lucrative media empire can attract a few million additional overseas visitors. The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has officially teamed up with Pokémon Korea on Monday to leverage the global powerhouse for regional travel promotion.
By linking Nintendo's beloved pocket monsters with local cultural landmarks, officials aim to disperse tourist flow away from Seoul's busy streets and into the nation's less-traveled regions.
The heart of this collaboration is the Pokémon Mega Festa 2026, a worldwide celebration commemorating the 30th year since the franchise's inception. From September 18th to October 11th, HiKR Ground - the KTO's multi-level immersive travel center in Seoul's center - will undergo a full-scale Pokémon transformation. As visitors navigate the venue's initial three floors, they will come across custom exhibitions and photo zones showcasing Pikachu dressed in traditional hanbok.
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.
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- Pikachu in hanbok: Pokémon powers up Korea's regional tourism drive koreatimes.co.kr
