Opening ceremony of Korea Grand Sale 2017 to be held Jan. 20

- Festival to kick off with unveiling of Event Center, giveaway event, and K-pop performance

- Foreigners to be welcomed at Incheon International Airport, and learn about hospitality through K-Smile Campaign

On Friday, January 20 at 11:30 a.m., the Visit Korea Committee (chaired by Park Sam-koo) will hold the opening ceremony of the Korea Grand Sale, a nationwide shopping & tour festival for foreigners, at the plaza in front of Doota Mall in Dongdaemun, Seoul.

The opening ceremony will begin with The Painters: Hero performance, followed by the unveiling of the Korea Grand Sale Event Center at the entrance of Doota Mall and a tape-cutting ceremony. The event will be attended by representatives of the committee’s member organizations, including the Visit Korea Committee, Korea Tourism Organization, Korea Tourism Association, and Korea Association of Travel Agents. The main program includes a giveaway event for foreign tourists, a winter sports VR experience event for invited guests, and a K-pop performance by the boy group BOYS24.

In celebration of the opening of the Korea Grand Sale, foreign tourists arriving at Incheon International Airport between 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on January 20 will be given a grand welcome. Promotional materials in English, Chinese, and Japanese will be distributed at the arrival gate. The festive atmosphere will be boosted by tour guides dressed in traditional Korean costumes.

On the same day, 100 University National Smile Team members will open a booth for the K-Smile Campaign from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Harmony Square of Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Those who visit the event booth will receive souvenirs. Using pickets and a photo wall containing messages of the K-Smile Campaign, the members will play their part to spread Korea’s hospitality culture while promoting the Korea Grand Sale and the 2016–2018 Visit Korea Year.

The Korea Grand Sale, to be held from Friday, January 20 to Tuesday, February 28, will offer various discounts in accommodation, shopping, beauty care, and entertainment to foreign tourists. To boost domestic sales, individual tourists will be encouraged to make purchases via UnionPay. The Event Center, open every day from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. during the sale period, will provide foreigners with helpful services such as interpretation in English, Japanese, and Chinese, event information, and free WiFi access.

For inquiries, please contact Kwon Ji-yeon, Manager, Service Improvement Team (jykwon@vkc.or.kr / +82-2-720-7341)