{
  "id": 18829053,
  "title": "From K-dramas to BTS: How pop culture is reshaping tourism in South Korea",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/from-k-dramas-to-bts-how-pop-culture-is-reshaping-tourism-in-south",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-08T01:00:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Channel News Asia",
    "slug": "channel-news-asia",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/south-korea-k-drama-bts-pop-culture-tourism-6530111"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Korea's pop culture scene, from K-dramas to BTS, is reshaping the tourism industry in the country. For Norwegian tourist Annette Giwlebo, a love of Korean dramas made her feel as though she was walking through scenes she had only seen on screen. In Busan, the global popularity of K-pop superstars BTS is driving new tourism opportunities. The city welcomed over 3.4 million foreign visitors between January and August, a 46% increase compared to the same period a year earlier. Local businesses, such as the Paradise Hotel Busan, have seen a significant rise in foreign guests and occupancy rates. The trend extends beyond K-pop, with temple stay tourism also experiencing growth, as visitors seek mental peace and comfort. In Busan's Ami-dong neighbourhood, known as the \"gravestone village,\" the connection to BTS fans, or \"ARMY,\" has provided a new source of hope for reviving the area's declining population.",
  "summary": "Fans are travelling to South Korea to experience the worlds of their favourite K-dramas and K-pop stars, creating new tourism opportunities and offering hope to communities grappling with population decline.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Pakistan's men down South Korea to win Asian Team Squash title",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/pakistans-men-down-south-korea-to-win-asian-team-squash-title",
        "published": "2026-11-07T18:56:37.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}