Seoul to create unique tourism products with IT startups
KING STUDIO in Seoul offers international K-Pop fans a professional recording experience in a studio used by top artists. Certified by Korea Tourism Organization and Seoul Metropolitan Government, record one song with expert vocal directors, producers, and engineers for an authentic K-Pop journey.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will join hands with eight tourism start-ups to develop unique tourism products using IT and smartphone applications.
The city announced on the 5th that it will hold an on-site audition for "Seoul Tourism Map Changed by Young Entrepreneurs" at the conference room of Seoul City Hall at 3 p.m. to determine the main character of the project funding of 300 million won.
According to the city government, the recent trend of tourism has shifted from package group tours to individual tours (73.8 percent). In addition, more than eight out of 10 tourists visiting Seoul use smartphones during their trips, so the city plans to develop and provide tourism services that meet the various preferences of individual travelers by supporting startups with ideas and technology.
Eight start-ups receive differential project costs from up to 50 million won (the grand prize) to 30 million won (the incentive prize), depending on the ranking determined by the evaluation of experts and audience evaluation teams at the site.
The eight finally selected start-ups are mainly technology-based services and experiential product services that help individual travelers find travel information using mobile devices and experience the charm of Seoul.
The eight startups include "Mango Plate," which searches and recommends restaurants in Seoul in Chinese, and "Plito," which translates "MUSICKING" tourist signs that provide K-Pop self-music video production services into foreign languages in real time.
The city and Seoul Tourism Marketing will help start-ups that have completed the project to make the most of the city's marketing channels over the next year.
By Kim Min Young
