Pyeongtaek City Attracts Chinese Tourists Through Unique Culture

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Pyeongtaek City announced on the 24th that it will pursue various tourism projects utilizing Pyeongtaek's unique culture to attract the growing number of Chinese tourists.

The "Korea-China Youth Culture and Tourism Exchange Performance" held at Pyeongtaek Lake Korean Sound Theater on the 18th is an example. The performance was staged by approximately 100 youth from Qianhuang Experimental Middle School and Shengnan Experimental Middle School from Jiangsu Province, China, and youth clubs from Pyeongtaek City's Youth Exchange Center. Youth from both countries showcased their skills through musical performances and K-POP dance performances.

For Pyeongtaek City, Chinese tourists—known as "you-ke"—represent a major opportunity to grow as an international cultural tourism destination. Nearly 400,000 Chinese visitors enter through the Pyeongtaek Port International Passenger Terminal each year. The city plans to lay the foundation for cultural tourism projects by enabling these visitors to enjoy Pyeongtaek's traditional culture.

Starting in April, the city plans to establish detailed business plans in cooperation with Gyeonggi Tourism Organization and formally implement Pyeongtaek-style cultural tourism projects targeting large-scale Chinese tourist groups entering through Pyeongtaek Port.

Pyeongtaek Mayor Jung Jang-seon stated, "We can sufficiently captivate foreigners with our own culture embodying Pyeongtaek's unique identity," and added, "We will do our best to enable Pyeongtaek City to develop into an international tourism destination."