KTO Manila announces new Wow Korea Supporters for 2017

Last March 30, 2017, KTO Manila finally announced their new Wow Korea Supporters for 2017, and I'm so happy that I was once again given the opportunity to be one of the 50 supporters.

Wow Korea Supporters are tasked to promote Korea Tourism and KTO Manila through their SNS accounts. They can share KTO Manila's post or create their own posts, blogs, and promotional videos related to Korea Tourism or KTO Manila. They are also tasked to submit monthly reports about the said posts to KTO Manila.

This year's selection process for the supporters seem to be more stringent than previous years as qualifications for the applicants have been narrowed down, and the screening committee is also bigger with the addition of partners like Travelers In Progress- TRIP, UST CTHM STS and Ateneo Korean Studies Program.

The supporters are also in for an even bigger challenge as specific themes will be given each week on what topic to promote. They'll be required to have 3 posts related to the theme each week, but they're also free to post other Korean-related topics.

So far, a total of 36 supporters have been announced already and 14 more will be announced in the coming days.

At the end of the year, the Best Wow Korea Supporter among all 50 supporters will win a tour package to Korea. I truly hope to win that package and promise to work harder this year (Fighting!). 

Being a Wow Korea Supporter is a truly rewarding experience that requires commitment, determination, and a genuine love for all things Korean. I've certainly enjoyed and have learned a lot from my first year as supporter (2015). I've been consistently promoting Korea (and have grown more in-love with the country) since.

Congratulations to all of the new supporters and I look forward to all the activities of KTO Manila Wow Korea Supporters this year!

Many thanks again to Korea Tourism Organization Manila, and it's partners, Philippine Kpop Convention, Travelers In Progress- TRIP, UST CTHM STS and Ateneo Korean Studies Program, for this wonderful opportunity :)

~~~

Planning to visit Korea? For information about Korean Tourism, you may visit the Korea Tourism Organization Official page, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

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13 Reasons Why You Should Visit South Korea (and why I DEFINITELY want to go back)

I was 12 when I told myself that there’s no such thing as love at first sight, but I was wrong, because in 2003, I fell in-love at first sight in Korea.

Prior to my visit, my only dream then was to visit Korea to satisfy my addiction for Kdrama and Kpop—buy Kpop merchandise & Korean cosmetics, watch a Kpop concert, and visit filming locations. But after seeing my dream face to face, and realizing that reality was so much better than what I dreamt of, I fell in-love and found a new dream. I want to see and discover more of Korea. I want to share my experience to other people too, especially those who’ve been curious about the country, wondering whether it’s worth the visit or not. 

If you haven’t visited Korea yet, here are 13 reasons why I think you should (and why I DEFINITELY want to go back):

1. Eco-tourism 

– If you’re like me who loves the calming effect of nature, likes to see and take pictures of breathtaking landscapes, or just to do a little walking, trekking, or hiking here and there, then Korea is the place to be. You can visit nature reserves/national parks, arboretums, botanical gardens, eco-trails and other eco-tourism sites. I’m particularly interested in visiting DMZ, the most dangerous nature reserve in the world, which remains practically untouched since 1953, and also look forward to visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site and volcanic island of Jeju.

What’s on my bucketlist (Places I want to visit)?: 

Jeju Island (Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak & Mt. Halla), Seoul Forest, Bukhansan National Park, Seoraksan National Park, Suncheon Bay, Boseong Tea Fields, Jirisan National Park, Garden of the Morning Calm

Seoraksan National Park. Photo Credit: Korea Tourism Organization

2. Hallyu a.k.a Korean Cultural Wave

- Since the 1990s, the popularity of Korean Culture & Entertainment have grown immensely, and this has been greatly attributed to Kdrama (Korean Drama), and Kpop (Korean Pop) Music. Despite the language difference, people all over the world have come to idolize Korean artists. The likes of Super Junior, Bigbang, Girls Generation, Psy, Lee Min Ho, Song Joong Ki, Song Hye Kyo, and Jun Ji Hyun, among others, have all become household names, capturing the hearts of fans from different parts of the world. 

There’s just something unique, and intangible about Kpop and Kdrama that draws people to it. The charming visuals, unique concepts and storylines, or the breathtaking filming sites perhaps? Watch a Kdrama and you would most certainly want to watch them again and again. Listen to a Kpop song, and pretty soon, you’ll be trying to memorize lyrics you may not even know the meaning of. And of course, at the bottom of it all, you’d want to visit Korea so badly to see your favorite idols in the flesh, watch them perform live in a concert and visit all those filming locations of your favorite dramas. Isn’t the power of culture amazing? 

What’s on my bucketlist?: 

Visit the filming sites of my favorite Kdramas--Descendants of the Sun, Moon Lovers: Scarlett Heart Ryeo and Moonlight Drawn by Clouds; Watch a Korean Music Show live; Watch another Kpop concert!^^

Cheonjuho Lake at Pocheon Art Valley, a filming location of Moon Lovers: Scarlett Heart Ryeo

3. Korean Food (Hansik)-

I found Korean cuisine as one of the best I’ve tasted in the world. Before, I had the impression that most Korean dishes are spicy, but when I finally tried them, I found them really flavourful, appealing, healthy and really delicious. There's so much more to it than what meets the eye (or the palate for that matter), because even in their cuisine, Koreans apply the philosophy of balance in terms of colors and ingredients. I also love how each meal in Korea has a lot of banchan (side dishes), which makes the meal more appetizing. 

From street food to local specialties and even desserts, Korean food is really irresistible, so be prepared to get a few extra pounds and stray from your diet when you visit Korea.

What’s on my bucketlist (Food I want to try again): 

Ramyun, Gimbap, Dakgalbi, Bingsu, Bulgogi, Korean Beef Stew, Bibimbap, Jajangmyeon, Tangsuyuk, Japchae, ChiMaek, Bibimyeon, Tteokbokki, Hotteok, Kimchi, Sundubu Jiggae, Samgyeopsal, Bossam, Samgyetang, Haemul Pajeon (this list is making me hungry!)

My favorite dessert, Korean Bingsu!

Bibimbap :)

One of my favorites, Chuncheon Dakgalbi! ^^

4. Tourist Spots

- Boring is a word that doesn’t exist in Korea. There’s just so much to see and do! You can visit Korean Palaces, take a stroll in a traditional village, meditate in a temple, or have an exciting day at a theme park. 

I find Korea also very safe and tourist friendly with lots of tourism centers, downloadable travel apps, and incentives and freebies being offered specifically to foreign visitors. In Seoul, there’s even a helpline specifically set up for tourists.

What’s on my bucketlist?: 

Visit all 100 must-visit sites (HERE), some that I really want to visit are Jongmyo Shrine, Blue House, Moonlight tours at Changdeokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Petite France, Nami Island, Everland, Suwon Hwaseong Fortress

My photo with the palace guard at Deoksugung Palace

One of our photos at the Trickeye Museum. It's a fun place to hang out :)

5. Weather & Climate

Korea has moderate weather conditions with four seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter). My favorite time to visit is Autumn. I love the cool weather during this time of the year. I remember that it all felt so magical and surreal when I first saw all that color, and natural vibrance. It was like going inside a painting with warm hues of red, orange, and yellow, everywhere. 

What’s on my bucketlist: 

I also look forward to seeing cherry blossoms during Spring, and experiencing snow, skiing and having a White Christmas for the first time, during winter in Korea!

My favorite picture of autumn taken at Gyeongbokgung Palace :)

6. Art 

- Hanbok, the colorful traditional Korean clothing, reflects the unique and expressive artistic sense of Koreans. No wonder the Korean art industry has sparked the interest and gained the admiration of many people all over the world. You can see how artistic Koreans are through their fashion, their architecture, theatrical performances, and everyday lives. 

My favorite example for this would be Korean street art. I like how they use art to transform less attractive areas in the community. Try walking around Seoul, and you’ll see attractive murals and amusing structures everywhere.

What’s on my bucketlist: 

Mullae Village; Apgujeong Graffiti Tunnel; Songwol-dong Fairytale Village in Incheon; Heyri Art Valley; Ewha Women’s University; Dongdaemun Design Plaza; I also want to watch non-verbal shows like Nanta and Fanta-Stick

LED Roses at Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Photo credit: VisitSeoul.net

7. People

- Koreans are one of the friendliest people I know. They’re warm, genuinely nice, thoughtful and always respectful, especially to elders. It’s really easy to get along with them, even with the language barrier. One of my fears in visiting Korea before was that nobody would be able to understand me, especially if I'm lost and asking for directions. But I was proven wrong because I've encountered several instances where they would go out of their way to help a total stranger like me.  

What's on my bucketlist:

Meet up with my Korean friends in Seoul; meet any of my favorite Korean artists in person :)

8. Technology

- South Korea is definitely at the forefront of technological advancements as it is hailed as one of the most wired countries in the world, with the fastest broadband internet that has an average connection speed of 25.3 / 26.7megabits (mbps) per second, and fastest mobile internet speed at an average connection speed of 18.2 mbps. I definitely took advantage of this during my previous visits, as I can upload hundreds of photos in my social media accounts in a matter of minutes via Seoul’s free 5G public wi-fi. There’s also no need to worry about connection, especially in Seoul, because there’s free public wifi access everywhere.

What's on my bucketlist:

Try the free mobile phone rental for tourists

9. Cosmetics

- Don’t we all envy flawless and healthy looking Korean Skin? I’m a huge fan of Korean Cosmetics as I find them really good for skin care. Since Korean make-up is more expensive in my country, I usually shop in bulk for a few months’ supply when I’m in Korea. My favorite place to shop is in Myeongdong because they usually give a lot of freebies along with my purchase.

What’s on my bucketlist?: 

Cosmetic shopping spree at my favorite stores--The Face Shop, Etude House, Tony Moly, Innisfree, Nature Republic

Some of my favorite items from Etude House ^^

10. Festivals

- Just like my country, Korea is home to many exciting festivals, some of which really sparked my interest... Ever heard of a Chicken & Beer Festival? How about a Mud, or a Water Gun Festival? If you’d like to try them, better take note of their dates to avoid missing them out. 

What’s on my bucketlist?:

Daegu Chimaek Festival, Boryeong Mud Festival, Seoul Lantern Festival, Andong Mask Dance Festival, Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival, Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival, Boseong Green Tea Festival, Sinchon Water Gun Festival, Goyang Flower Festival

Some photos I took from the Seoul Lantern Festival:

People were making DIY lanterns and writing their wishes on them.

The lanterns were then set afloat along the Cheonggyecheon stream

11. Transportation

- I find travelling in Korea really convenient as you have a wide variety of options (from trains, buses, ferries, cabs, etc.) to choose from. Their transportation system is really efficient, so driving your own car may not be advisable (plus parking can be expensive). You can go anywhere within minutes just by train, which is cheap, fast, and reliable. 

Because of my tight itinerary, I once had to visit a celebrity owned café prior to watching a concert. At first, I thought I would be late because it was rush hour but I made it just in time, all thanks to the super fast and convenient Seoul Subway :)

Also, if you’re a foreigner visiting Korea, and don’t know your way around, fret not because there are a variety of apps that you can use to navigate around.

What’s on my bucketlist? 

Ride the KTX train going to Busan (haha, and yes, it's because of the movie 'Train to Busan'); Try the Han River Cruise; Try the Seoul Bus Tours

My friends and I enjoying our train ride at the ITX (Intercity Train eXpress)- Cheongchun High Speed Train

12. Coffee Culture

- I’m a self-confessed coffee addict, and Korea has tons of really nice cafes. From themed cafes, to Hanok-style cafes, and my favorite, celebrity owned cafes, you’ll definitely be in for a treat and have a hard time deciding which to visit first. In Seoul alone, you can find some 50,000 coffee shops. Now, that’s a lot of café-hopping in my itinerary.

What’s on my bucket list?: 

Kim Jaejoong’s J-holic Café in Myeongdong; Forresta Book Café; Café Healing 616 in Gangnam; Super Junior Kyuhyun's Mom House & Cafe; Hello Kitty Cafe in Jeju; Dal.komm Coffee in Songdo, Yangjae, and Bundang (because of Descendants of the Sun)

Slow Park in Samcheongdong

Hello Kitty Cafe in Hongdae

13. Medical Tourism- 

Korea is becoming a popular place to get essential health treatments. Personally, I like Korea Medical Tourism’s philosophy of taking care of their patients inside and out, improving their over-all health and well-being, and even considering their cultural differences in terms of religion and nationality. With that kind of philosophy, along with world class medical procedures, and top caliber doctors, I believe visiting Korea for medical reasons is worth it. Their costs are also relatively lower, especially as compared to western countries. (For more details on medical tourism in Korea, you can check out the Visit Medical Korea website HERE)

What’s on my bucket list?: 

Templestay; Traditional Korean Medicine Detox Steam; skin care treatments that will help keep my skin looking young and healthy (I think these are very appropriate for people like me who experience constant stress)

Photo credit: http://eng.templestay.com/

I hope my list convinced you to push through with your very own #VisitKorea trip! ^^

Through all these things (and MORE!), I found love in Korea--- love from all the new friends I’ve met, love for photography and travel, love for culture, love for adventures, love in pursuing the things that matter to me, love for living and appreciating life more.

My love affair with Korea opened many doors that I never imagined would be there. I’ve met a lot of new friends not only from my country but also from other parts of the world. I gained a lot of wonderful experiences that would always be a source of inspiration and strength. And for all that, Korea will forever be dear to my heart. I may visit other countries, but it will always be my second home, a place that I would always want to go back to. :)

~~~

This article is my entry for Global Wow Korea. I want to be part of it because it’s another opportunity for me to discover more about the beautiful country that opened so many doors for me. 

In my own little way, I want to give back by helping promote Korea and sharing my experiences to the world, so that others may also be encouraged to explore it.

If you want to know more about Global Wow Korea, you can check out the post below or visit their website HERE.

Thank you, and I hope you enjoy reading my post!

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[REVIEW] Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour Day 1: Nature Kitchen 자연별곡

Annyeong! Finally, I have time to start my reviews. I’ve been very busy the past weeks after my autumn trip in Korea since I have to catch up on a lot of work. Now that it’s almost time for Christmas break, I can concentrate more on blogging. (Yay!)

As promised in my previous post about the Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour, I’ll be reviewing the places that we’ve been to during my recent 4 days, 3 nights trip in Korea, which is sponsored by Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). How I miss being in Korea and exploring all those wonderful places!

I’ll be using a scale of 10 in my reviews, with 10 being the highest and 1 as the lowest.

Hope you will enjoy reading this series of reviews, and hope I’ll be able to provide valuable information to you^^

~~~

Nature Kitchen 자연별곡

First on my list is Nature Kitchen 자연별곡( pronounced as ‘Jayeonbyolgok’ in Korean) , which is located at the 3rd Floor of Toros Tower in Hongdae, Seoul. This is where we had our first full meal and lunch in Korea. 

I think meal times are one of my favourite during this trip because KTO really knows how to spoil us with food…and I mean lots of food. Our guides, along with KTO staff would always tell us to eat well, and boy did we eat a lot. 

Nature Kitchen 자연별곡 is a Hansik (Korean Food) Buffet Restaurant managed by E-Land Group, that serves a variety of Korean menus, including traditional dishes served in the royal court of the Joseon Dynasty, and claims to “provide dishes from the eight provinces of the Korean peninsula that braces the stories of King and Queens”. 

A panoramic shot of the buffet area that I took at the restaurant

There were lots of dishes to choose from (They said it’s about a hundred), and I think you should make sure to have a lot of room in your tummy when you come here because the food are all scrumptious. 

I heard that Nature Kitchen started a new trend in the Korean Restaurant industry when it was launched just last 2014. Because of the rising popularity of Korean cuisine, and the desire for healthier food choices, the restaurant came up with a Korean Salad Bar, which not just consists of salad, which became really popular that it led to the opening of 18 more branches.

Here’s my detailed review about the place:

Food: 9 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

- Because of the huge variety of great tasting dishes that including a huge selection of meat dishes,  hot and cold noodle dishes, Korean Salad bar, Korean pancakes, a ‘Patjuk’ fondue (red bean fondue), assorted sweet rice cake balls, Gangwondo-style Tofu Bossam, Gwangyang-style Bulgogi, various kinds of fresh vegetables, Korean sauces, soups and side dishes (banchan 반찬) . You can also make your own bibimbap and bingsu, and order noodle dishes separately.
- My favorite dishes include the sweet and sour crispy pork (Tangsuyuk), bulgogi, bibimbap, and bingsu!

Meat...meat...and more meat! (oh my, I should take better food photos next time!)

Variety of sauces

Noodles!!!

Looks like chocolate fondue right? But apparently, it's Patjuk, which is made from red bean (dried azuki beans).

Full plate for a filling lunch

Our lunch table looks lovely with all these yummy delicacies

My own version of bingsu with all the traditional rice cakes my stomach can take in! ^^

I found their buffet plate (the one with separations) really cute. It's my first time to see it and I think it's good to use if you want to taste everything and yet don''t want food to touch or to avoid too much clutter in your plate.

Service: 8 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

- Since it’s a buffet, it’s mostly self-service, but you can also order some items in the menu separately like noodle dishes. They’re quite fast, and the staff are quite friendly too. 

Ambiance: 9 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

- The place gives you that luxurious, traditional Korean feel with matching traditional ornaments, like large wooden spoons, jars, and wooden bowls. There is soft lighting, dark marble floors, water fountains, and dark wooden tables. The place is also quite spacious with a capacity of around 212 seats.
- Just like most Korean buffets, the buffet area is divided into sections such as roasted meat corner, hot food corner, cold food corner, vegetable and salad dishes corner, traditional dessert section, and drinks/coffee and tea section (가배와 차).

Drinks section where you can get coffee, tea, etc.

Some seasonal dishes are cooked by the chefs right in front of you at that counter so they are served hot.

Price/Value for money: 10 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

- This restaurant is famous for serving really good food for a very affordable price. Weekday lunch is just KRW 12,900 (around USD 12.99 or PHP518.66), while dinner on weekdays, weekends, and holidays is just KRW 19,900(around USD19.99 or PHP 800.10). If compared to buffet here in the Philippines, the price can be expensive, but in Korea, that's quite affordable for buffet price already. I once ate a single meal for 20,000 won, so I thought, why didn't I know this place before? (Haha!)
They accept cash/credit card payments (Including overseas cards).

Accessibility: 8 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

- The place is quite easy to find as it is inside a tower, and near Hongik University Station Line 2.

Will I go back to this place?: Definitely!

- I super love Nature Kitchen 자연별곡 and I'm so glad that the Visit Korea VIP Invitation Tour included this in the itinerary. It's a great place for family (or any group for that matter!) dinners and lunches, especially if you want a traditional Korean feel, because the food tastes great, with lots of variety, and are quite affordable. You definitely get your money's worth.

Our group photo during lunch. Thanks for this nice shot Tere! ^^

Other Important Details about Nature Kitchen:

Price Range:

• Adults: KRW 19,900
• Youth/Elementary Students : KRW 9900
• Pre-school : KRW 6500
• Less than 36 month old: FREE

Branches:

SEOUL: Hongdae, Gangnam, Mok-dong
BUSAN: Seomyeon, Kyungsung University * You can check out the rest of their branches in their website.

How to get there (Hongdae Branch)?

Location: Hongdae, Seoul (3rd Floor of Toros Tower)
Address: 159-8 Toros Tower 3rd Floor Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
(서울특별시 마포구 양화로 153 토로스타워 3층)

Directions:

If coming from the subway, take Line No. 2 Hongik Univ. Station Exit 1, then walk to Toros Tower. The restaurant is at the 3rd floor of the building.

If you have your car with you, there’s a Saemoolgyoul on-street public parking lot at Mapo-gu Dongyo-dong 165-1 with 17 spaces at KRW 600 per 10 minutes.

The restaurant is near Hongik University, Shinchon Hyundai Department store and the street of Ewha Women’s University.

Operating hours (may vary per branch):

The store is open all-year round (except otherwise announced)

Weekday Lunch (평일점심) AM11:00~PM4:00 

Weekday Evenings (평일저녁) PM4:00~PM10:00

Weekend Holidays (주말.공휴일) AM11:00~PM10:00

For more info on the restaurant, you can check the following sites:

Website: http://www.naturekitchen.co.kr/
FB Page: https://web.facebook.com/naturekitchen11/
Blog: http://blog.naver.com/naturediner

You can also call the branch via this number: 02-332-0540

~~~

If you want to know the rest of our itinerary for this trip, you can check out my first blog post about the Visit Korea VIP Member Invitation Tour.

Many thanks again to Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) for making this trip, possible. You can check out the KTO official website and follow their accounts on Facebook and Twitter for the details on tour sites and packages, as well as helpful tips on travelling to Korea.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

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Search for the 2015 Korean Tourism Ambassador Online Event

Hello! Calling all Korea lovers out there again to join Korea Tourism Organization Manila's newest online event!

Get a chance to win a Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy Tab S or a GoPro Hero 4 Silver by just answering the question: Who do you think is the finest Filipino celebrity to be a Korean Tourism Ambassador?

The mechanics for joining this event is very easy:

Step 1: Like KTO Manila's Facebook page HERE

Step 2: Vote for your favorite Filipino celebrity and answer the questions HERE (Some names of Pinoy celebrities have already been given as choices but there's also an option for you to nominate your favorite celeb. You will also need to explain your choice as this will be KTO Manila's basis in choosing the winner, so be creative with your explanation :))

Step 3: Share the event poster found on the link HERE and tag 3 of your friends. Include the caption "I want (name of chosen celebrity) to be a‪#‎KoreanTourismAmbassador‬" (e.g. I want Kathryn Bernardo to be a #KoreanTourismAmbassador)

Some important points to remember in joining this event:

• Make sure to set the privacy of your post (when you share the event poster) to PUBLIC (you may tag KTO Manila as well)
• Only Filipino citizens currently residing in the Philippines are qualified to join
• Winners will be chosen from the celebrity with the most number of votes
• Answer with the best explanation will win the contest (Maximum of 10 sentences)
• Winners will be announced and contacted individually 
• Only one entry per Facebook account
• Prizes are non-transferable and not convertible to cash
• Prizes may change with equal or greater value

The event will run from August 24~September 18, 2015, and the winners will be announced on September 23, 2015 (Wednesday).

Join now, and you might be one of the lucky winners of those amazing gadgets! ^^

~~~

For more information about Korean Tourism, you may visit the Korea Tourism Organization Official Website, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

Credits to Korea Tourism Organization and Korea Tourism Organization Manila for the event info, and poster.

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KTO Manila to hold Korea Incentive Road Show in September

With the aim of promoting Korea as the top corporate incentive travel destination, Korea Tourism Organization Manila will be holding a Korea Incentive Road Show on September 3, 2015, Thursday at Ballroom 1 & 2 of the Fairmont Hotel in Makati. 

One of the highlights of the event is the Korea Incentive Mini Mart at 3:30~5:30PM, which is open to all travel agencies and private companies in the country. This will feature table top meetings with Korea's best corporate travel suppliers, tour operators, convention bureaus, and airlines, which can be an avenue for travel agents to expand their network as well as to gain relevant insights from the industry. Snacks and drinks will be served and participants will receive MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) travel kits and freebies upon registration. 

There will also be a Korea Incentive Night at 5:30~8:30PM, which is strictly by invitation only. It will showcase the latest corporate incentive travel trends in Korea via exclusive presentations. Special guests include the Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Mr. Jae-Shin Kim and Department of Tourism Undersecretary Benito C. Bengzon, Jr.

To cap off the event and hype up the excitement among participants, 5 roundtrip tickets to Korea will be given away during the Korea Incentive Night. 

Sponsored by Air Asia, Asiana Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Jeju Air, Korean Air, and supported by the Korean Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and Banco De Oro, the Korea Incentive Road Show is part of KTO’s efforts to boost Korea’s travel industry and attract international tourists to visit the country after the recent outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-Cov) there.

The MERS-Cov outbreak caused a huge drop in inbound tourism in Korea. Hence, KTO has been relentless in organizing efforts to revitalize its tourism industry since the country was declared free from MERS-Cov since end of July. One of the steps being taken is to further capitalize on MICE tourism, and the Philippines, with its growing economy and the Filipino’s growing fascination to the Hallyu Wave, is a good potential market.

For more information on the event, interested participants may call Korea Tourism Organization Manila Office at (02) 880-0312 to 13, or they can also send an email to ktomanila@gmail.com.

~~~

For more information about Korean Tourism, you may visit the Korea Tourism Organization Official Website, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

Credits to Korea Tourism Organization and Korea Tourism Organization Manila for the event info, and posters.

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Watch KTO's new TVC and get a chance to win a trip to Korea!

Hello! For all Korea lovers out there, here's another chance to win a trip to Korea :)

Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) recently launched their new official TV commercial, which is 70 seconds long and features Korea's colorful culture, scenic spots, and famous actor Lee Min Ho. And now, they're holding the “2015 KTO TVC Facebook Event" at the Imagine Your Korea Facebook page. 

The mechanics for joining is very simple:

Step 1. Watch KTO's new TVC which you can find in this link: youtu.be/UJVlHwpS6Nw

Step 2. In the comments section of the FB post announcing the event (HERE), you have to: 

• ① Name two places that movie star Lee Min-ho went to in the video. (Hints have been given HERE and HERE so this should be easy :) ) 
• ② Tell them what you want to experience in Korea.

Step 3. Share the FB post HERE and spread your love for Korea.

This is one of the places that Lee Min Ho visited. Guess where this is :)

Lee Min Ho looking really handsome in the TVC. I'm sure a lot of Minoz will love this ad! :)

There are 150 prizes at stake, which include the following:

• Grand Prize [1 winner]: Round-trip flight to Korea via Korean Air (economy class) + 2 night stay at a 5 star hotel (The Shilla Seoul)
• 1st Prize [10 winners]: Round-trip flight to Korea via Korean Air (economy class)
• 2nd Prize [39 winners]: 2 night stay at a 5 star hotel (The Shilla Seoul)
• 3rd Prize [100 winners]: Lee Min-ho candle

Lee Min Ho candle

The Event runs from Aug. 1 (Sat) to Aug. 19 (Wed), 2015 and is open to legal residents of their respective countries, who are thirteen (13) years of age or older at the time of entry. (So you still have a few days to join! :) )

From all who submitted their entries, the winners of the Event will be chosen at random by KTO and will be announced on August 27, 2015.

The list of winners shall be posted at the Imagine your Korea FB page. Winners will also be notified via registered Facebook personal message, where they will be required to submit their personal information for the delivery of their prize. Failure to reply within 5 days from the date of notification will mean forfeiture of their prize.

Both the flight ticket and hotel accommodation prizes will be delivered in the form of vouchers, which can be used until December 31, 2015. Vouchers are non-transferable, non-refundable, and cannot be converted to cash.

Winners are responsible for securing their travel documents as well as any expenses that are not covered by the said vouchers. 

For more information on the event, please read the Terms and Conditions HERE.

~~~

So, what are you waiting for? Hurry and join! Who knows, this might be your chance to visit the Land of the Morning Calm :)

If you're a fan of Lee Min Ho, you might also want to check out the Behind the Scenes video ^^:

For more information about Korean Tourism, you may visit the Korea Tourism Organization Official Website, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

For Filipinos, follow Korea Tourism Organization Manila at Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk (@ktomanila) for the latest updates on Korea tourism, events, tour packages and promos. :)

Credits to Korea Tourism Organization (visitkorea.or.kr) for the info, videos and photos.

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