5 useful tips for anyone travelling to Korea

Are you planning to travel to Korea soon?
I remember being very anxious on my first trip to Korea but I was busy then so I hardly had time for research.
After the trip there was so many things I wish I knew, like where to get discounted tickets, or free services that I could have taken advantage of when I was there. That's why I want to share some of the services, policies and apps that I'm sure would be helpful to anyone who's about to visit Korea.

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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 :)

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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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KTO Manila begins search for next batch of Wow Korea Supporters

Wow, how time flies so fast! I can't believe that it's been a year already since I first applied as Wow Korea Supporter 2015. It's been an awesome year filled with a lot of discoveries about Korea's tourism and culture, and I can say being one of last year's 50 supporters was a remarkable experience that made my fondness for Korea more profound.

Just recently, Korea Tourism Organization Manila once again launched their search for the most avid Koreanophiles in Metro Manila, and this time, they will be choosing only 20 Wow Korea Supporters for 2016 (instead of 50 supporters like last year).

Do you have what it takes to be a Wow Korea Supporter? Apply now to find out and you might even get the chance to win a roundtrip ticket to Korea. The qualifications needed are as follows:

1. 1. Must be a Filipino citizen aged 18 and above, residing in Metro Manila
2. 2. Must be an active SNS user
3. 3. Must be a member of an affiliated PKCI (Philippine Kpop Convention) fan club.               Check out the list of PKCI Affiliated fan clubs HERE
4. 4. Like KTO Manila's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/koreatourismmanila), follow them on Twitter (@KTOManila) and  KakatoTalk (@ktomanila)

To apply, just fill out and submit the application form found in this link:  http://goo.gl/forms/soISULzuCd

Once you've passed the form, walk the talk and start being an active Korea tourism supporter (if you aren't already one) by promoting and sharing the announcements, activities, posts and events of KTO Manila on your respective SNS accounts (Facebook, Twitter, blog, etc.)

KTO Manila will be monitoring the accounts of qualified applicants and choose the most active ones from there. Please make sure all your accounts and posts are set to "public" so they can access and track them as well.

The application period as 2016 KTO Manila Wow Korea Supporter is from February 26 to March 25, 2016. The announcement of winners is on March 29, 2016.

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Credits to Korea Tourism Organization Manila for the details in this post. Check out their original announcement post HERE. 

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Highly acclaimed Korean non-verbal show Cookin' Nanta now in Manila

Good news to Korea lovers and theater enthusiasts! Korea's longest running and most popular non-verbal show, Cookin' Nanta is ready to sizzle here in Manila for a limited season at Solaire Resort and Casino's The Theatre from November 10 – 15, 2015.

Featuring the story of four crazy chefs, who were given the task of preparing a wedding banquet in just an hour, Cookin' Nanta is based on the rhythms of the traditional Korean percussion quartet 'Samulnori.' The word 'Nanta' (난타) literally means “wild beating" or "to strike relentlessly”in Korean. Hence, the main theme of the show is to use kitchen utensils such as knives, spoons, pots and pans as instruments in a wonderful musical frenzy of reckless rhythms and percussion. This cooking show is accompanied by some acrobatics, comedy, magic tricks, and pantomime, which makes it all the more exciting for the audience.

Running 90 minutes long, the highlights of the show include a wedding ceremony, a dumpling challenge, and a water drum sequence, which have delighted audiences from different parts of the world. The show is open to all and doesn't have age restrictions.

The show premiered in Korea in October 1997 at Hoam Art Hall in Seoul. Since then, it has become the most popular show in Korea, with the record of having the largest number of audience in the country's theater history. It also received an award for Best Performance at the 1999 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it made its international debut, and has also achieved international recognition in Broadway, the United States, Italy, Japan, and Singapore among many others.

If you're in Korea, you can still catch Nanta in exclusive theaters in Seoul (Jeongdong, Myeongdong, & Hongdae), and in Jeju for around 60,000 won for VIP seats, 50,000 won for S seats, and 40,000 won for A seats (Check out HERE for more details). But if you're here in Manila, why not take advantage of this wonderful opportunity, and book your tickets now? :)

Supported by Korea Tourism Organization Manila, Korean Cultural Center in cooperation with Solaire Resorts & Casino, the ticket prices and show dates are as follows:

SCHEDULE OF PERFORMANCES

• November 10 (8pm) Tue 
• November 11 (8pm) Wed 
• November 12 (8pm) Thu 
• November 13 (8pm) Fri 
• November 14 (3pm & 8pm) Sat 
• November 15 (3pm & 8pm) Sun

For ticket inquiries, you may call 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph. For group bookings (20 or more), you may email alma@ticketworld.com.ph.

"High energy experience with infectious rhythms."~ The Guardian
"Explodes with rhythm, fizzes with acrobatic energy."~ Evening News-e style

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Interested about Korean Tourism? Check out 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. :)

Thanks to Korea Tourism Organization, Korea Tourism Organization Manila, and Korean Cultural Center for the event details and info! :)

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Book your autumn or winter trip at the Korea Travel Mart 2015

Photo credit: Korea Tourism Organization

Booking a trip to Korea has never been more exciting!^^ 

If you're thinking of an autumn or a winter trip to Korea to cap off the year, you might as well book it at the Korea Travel Mart 2015 at Glorietta Mall Activity Center in Makati, on October 24-25, 2015, where special gifts will be given to everyone who will book an air ticket or tour package.

Organized by Korea Tourism Organization Manila, this 2-day event is a great opportunity to put your travel plans to reality as there will be a lot of travel package options to choose from. With various travel agencies such as Adam's Express Travel Corp., Aerial Travel & Tours, Horizon Travel & Tours, International Journeys, Rakso Travel, Skynet Travel Corp., Travel Plus International Inc., and Wintrex Travel Corp. participating in the event, you may just find the perfect tour package that suit your travel preferences.

Aside from that, you will surely enjoy the various special performances that will be showcased during the event. These include 'The Painters: Hero', a Korean non-verbal performance that mixes art with play, and music; a cooking demo by the Korean Cultural Center; a Taekwondo demonstration; dance lessons by Kpop cover dance group SHINErs; and an intermission number from the Kpop group 'Nom', who will also have a fan sign event.

Sponsored by the Korean Culture Center, and the Philippine Kpop Convention, Inc., the admission to the event is FREE. Event partners include Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Jeju Air, Cebu Pacific, and Air Asia.

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

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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. :)

Thanks to Korea Tourism Organization Manila for the event info :)

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KTO Manila continues efforts to boost tourism with Korea Incentive Road Show

Last September 3, 2015, Korea Tourism Organization Manila held the Korea Incentive Road Show at Ballrooms 1 & 2 of the Fairmont Hotel in Makati, which aimed to promote Korea as the top corporate incentive travel destination. I was fortunate enough to be one among three Wow Korea Supporters who were able to attend the event.

Korea Incentive Mini Mart

The Korea Incentive Mini Mart was held in the afternoon at around 3:30-5:30pm, where Korea's best corporate travel suppliers, tour operators, convention bureaus, and airlines sat down and had table top meetings with the country’s travel agencies and private companies to discuss travel packages that may suit their requirements and preferences, and perks in visiting Korea as a group. Most of them give away freebies (probably to make an impression to prospective Clients) as well as informative collaterals such as pamphlets, maps and leaflets.

KTO Manila Freebies for event participants

The KCC Traditional Dance Team also performed to entertain everyone, half way through the event. 

KCC Traditional Dance Team with their fan dance. (Photo credit: KTO Manila)

Of course, we had 'photo ops' and selfies during the event :)

Various photos about Korea and its culture were also exhibited during the event as additional attraction for participants:

Korea Incentive Night

The Korea Incentive Night, which is strictly by invitation only, followed right after. Cocktails were served as guests lined up to get their respective IDs and freebies from the registration area.

We had a selfie with the host, Ms. Sam Oh, before the program started :)

The program started with the singing of the national anthem of the two countries, the Philippines and Korea. The program was hosted by Ms. Sam Oh, and Mr. Kee-Hun Kim, Executive Director of the Korea MICE Bureau gave the opening remarks.

Ms. Sam Oh, the host for the night

At the beginning of the program, the Korean Ambassador to the Philippines, H. E Jae-Shin Kim also gave his welcome remarks and talked about the rapid growth of foreign and bilateral relations between Korea and the Philippines, especially in the field of tourism. With the increasing number of Koreans visiting the country (around 2,000 Korean tourists arrive in the country every day) and Filipinos going to Korea (around 400,000 Philippine tourists visited Korea last year), and he said there is high possibility of further broadening the interest in the tourism sector between the two countries. He also cited Koreas best features, from their infrastructure growth, IT and communication systems, strategic location, rich history and cultural heritage that includes UNESCO World Heritage Sites, to medical tourism, and of course Hallyu or the Korean Wave, which is very popular among many Filipinos.

Ambassador Jae-Shin Kim delivering his welcome remarks at the Korea Incentive Night

“Ladies and gentlemen, more than ever, I think this is the ideal time for more Filipinos to visit Korea,” the ambassador said, calling on the Philippine Tourism Industry to help them promote Korea in the country. He ended his speech by expressing his appreciation to everyone who made the event possible, and his confidence in its success.

To complement the Ambassador’s welcome remarks, the Department of Tourism’s Usec. Benito C. Bengzon, Jr. also gave a congratulatory speech for the Korea Tourism Organization. He emphasized the fundamental and very important role that KTO has played in bringing together the people of Korea to the Philippines, as well as how this significantly improved the intercultural relations between the 2 countries. He mentioned the healthy exchange of two-way traffic between the two countries.

During his congratulatory speech, Usec. Benito C. Bengzon, Jr. assured KTO that the Dept. of Tourism will continuously support them 

“We assure you that we will give you our full support so that you can increase the 400,000 to 1.2 Million. And I hope that you will also help us get the additional 800,000 so that we can finally reach our target of 2 Million Korean tourists in the Philippines. But clearly, the two-way traffic has never been better…,” he said.

The Undersecretary further added that the Department of Tourism will be firm with its support to the Korea Tourism Organization and that they would like to renew their commitment in supporting KTO’s initiatives to promote and develop various industries particularly in the area of tourism. “I am confident that the Department of Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization will be able to continue to play its vital role in strengthening relations between our people. So tonight, it’s not only about promoting tourism between our countries, more important than anything else, it’s promoting friendship and building stronger relations,” he said.

Ms. Velika de Jesus presented updates on Korea MICE travel.

One of the highlights of the event is the updates on Korea MICE travel given by Ms. Velika de Jesus, Assistant Manager of KTO Manila. She highlighted several reasons why tourists should travel to Korea, which are as follows:

Korea’s Rich Cultural Heritage

• Kimchi Making
• Temple Stay (more details HERE)
• Festivals- every month, there’s a festival in Korea (e.g. Boryeong Mud Festival- which attracts the most foreign tourists in Korea; Seoul Lantern Festival in Nov- which is one of the biggest Buddhist event in Korea)

World Class Infrastructures for Harmonious Gatherings

• Global accessibility and transportation systems (e.g Incheon Intl Airport is the main hub for most connecting flights. Serves 88 airlines, 183 cities, and 56 countries. Awarded as the best airport in Asia)
• Comfortable and affordable lodging facilities- Korea offers a wide range of accommodations which include 5-star hotels managed by int’l chains such as Ritz-Carlton, InterContinental, Hilton, etc. as well as local chains such as Shilla and Lotte; clean budget hostels, and even Hanok stays (traditional Korean house; check HERE for more details).
• Convention Centers and Meeting facilities
• High Technology (numerous public wi-fi spots; home of Samsung, LG, and Hyundai)

Unique Attractions for Unforgettable Events

• Historical & Cultural Sites (Gyeongbokgung, Palace of Shining Happiness)
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Korea is home of 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites which include Bulguksa Temple, Jongmyo Shrine, Hwaseong Fortress, Jeju Volcanic Island and the newest addition, the Baekje Historic Areas; more details HERE)
• Pristine Coastlines and Mountains
• The Demilitarized Zone
• Korea Medical Tourism

Cuisine for Palatable Experiences (Food/Hansik)

• Foreigners can visit Korea as Gourmet Tourists and find a lot of unique restaurants and appetizing delicacies (know more about Korean Cuisine HERE and HERE)

Shopping and Entertainment

• Shopper’s Paradise- Korea offers various shopping options from Duty Free Shopping to traditional outdoor markets such as Nandaemun and Dongdaemun (more details HERE), to popular and hip shopping places in Myeongdong, Insa-dong, Itaewon, etc. (You can also get tax refunds when you purchase 30,000 won or more at a store. Learn more about it HERE)
• Variety of both modern and traditional performances (more details HERE)
• Taekwondo Demonstrations
• Hallyu Performances and Kpop Concerts (Check HERE to know how to apply as audience for Kpop Music shows) 
• Kpop and Kdrama Filming Sites (popular locations are MBC Dramia, Petite France, Suncheon Open Film Location, etc.)

Korea as MICE Destination

• Korea has the capability to hold large-scale conventions, having hosted 469 conventions (as of 2011) already, and is fit for the standards specified by the Union of Int’l Associations and ranked 6th in the world.
• Korea is ranked 4th safest country in the world
• Tourist Police who are trained in speaking foreign languages (English, Chinese, Japanese) are deployed in key cities in Korea (Seoul, Busan, Incheon)

Korea ranks 6th as top international meeting destination (2011)

Ms. Velika also mentioned their Incentive Tour Programs. For example, a group of 10 people staying in Korea for at least 2 days for a simple business meeting may already avail of 2 out of 3 service options which include free souvenirs, hosted non-verbal show performances, or a welcome ceremony. A bigger group, say 1000 or more, can get worth 20,000 won per person with additional customized support services. These benefits are also applicable to cruise trips as long as they disembark in Korea for 2 days.

To excite the audience, raffle draws were held in between. The prizes range from small traditional items such as a Pearl Crystal Case, a silver spoon set, to 5 roundtrip tickets to Korea.

The segment producer of Matanglawin (a popular documentary show in ABSCBN2), Ms. Grace Sukgang also presented a short video that featured their experiences in their visits to Seoul, Gangwon, and Jeju Island.

(Updated: I was finally able to upload the video of the Matanglawin feature where the crew narrated their experiences in Korea. Pardon the shaky and low quality video :))

Over dinner, the audience was serenaded by the Korea Fusion Traditional Music Band, Lin. This was followed by a corporate travel testimony of Coach Clarissa Calingasan.

(Updated: Here are my videos of Lin's performance during that night)

Here's what we had for dinner :) Yummy, right?

The event, which is 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, was concluded by the awarding of the Plaques of Appreciation to the Guest Speakers by KTO Director Inshik Park, and the drawing of the winners of the roundtrip to Korea tickets.

Over-all, I’d say it was such an enjoyable and informative event, especially for those who are planning to visit Korea like me. And as said by one of the speakers, Korea is indeed the incentive, because it is a beautiful country with a lot to offer (And I can certainly vouch for that because I’ve been there once :)). So, if you're planning for your company's next destination for large-scale meetings, and conferences, why not try Korea? :) 

I’m also so happy to meet and get to know fellow Wow Korea Supporters. It’s always nice to meet people who share the same interest. Looking forward to attending more events with these ladies :) and meeting the rest of the supporters as well.

This is me with fellow Wow Korea Supporters Stephanie and Jovie :)

For more information on incentive tours, and tour packages, you may get in touch with Korea Tourism Organization Manila via their email at ktomanila@gmail.com.

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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 info materials provided. Thank you KTO Manila for inviting us to the event! ^^

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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! ^^

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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.

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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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[EVENT] KTO Manila's Discover Your Korea Quiz Winners

For those of you who joined Korea Tourism Organization Manila's Discover Your Korea Quiz, which I blogged about at this POST, you may now check out if your name is among the 50 winners of the Samsung Powerbanks:

Congratulations to all the winners! Your prizes will be delivered via courier. (Note: ‪#‎KTOManila‬ will not be liable for wrong/misspelled mailing address. We will follow the address indicated on your answers.)

Please keep on supporting KTO Manila and stay tuned for more updates and events! ^^

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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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