Minister YU In Chon Participates in the Inaugural “Local Journey” Campaign, Visiting “Local 100” Regions to be Held this December 21 and 22

Exploring “Local 100” Sites, including the “Miryang Arirang Festival” and “Tongyeong International Music Festival,” with National and Foreign Participants

The “Local Journey” Campaign Runs until the End of December 2024, with Participants Receiving a Small Souvenir

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister YU In Chon, MCST), together with Miryang City (Acting Mayor and Vice Mayor HEO Dong Sik), KORAIL Tourism Development (CEO KWON Shin Il), and the Regional Culture & Development Agency, launched “Local 100 Train Travel - Miryang.” The campaign, “Local Journey to See Local 100 (hereinafter “Local Journey”),” which visits regions where “Local 100” is located, will run from Thursday, December 21, until the end of December 2024. Minister YU In Chon, as the first “Local Journey” participant, will personally visit Miryang and Tongyeong of the “Local 100,” home to the “Miryang Arirang Festival” and the “Tongyeong International Music Festival,” respectfully, which were selected as part of the “Local 100,” on December 21 (Thur) and 22 (Fri).

Last October, the MCST meticulously identified and designated local cultural attractions, content, and notable figures as part of the “Local 100” to unravel the cultural charm of the region and actively promote the intrinsic value of local culture. The plan is to promote the “Local 100” intensively, leveraging the rich spectrum of local cultural resources encompassing culture, arts, history, tourism, and lifestyle. This effort seeks to stimulate heightened interest and visits, both domestically and internationally, to these regions, enhancing their cultural and economic appeal.

December 21: Announced the Launch of the “Local Journey” Campaign at Seoul Station

Share Photos and Videos of Your Visit to“Local 100” on Social Media and Tag Two People to Join You

At 8 a.m. on December 21 (Thur), Minister YU is slated to officially inaugurate the “Local Journey” campaign. This momentous occasion will commence with the spirited proclamation of the slogan “Local Journey to See Local 100” in the presence of 50 domestic and international participants in front of the “Local 100” promotional booth on the 3rd floor of Seoul Station. Brazilian broadcaster Carlos Gorito will host the campaign’s launching event, and Yong In University’s Department of Korean Traditional Music student, LEE Min Jin, will present a celebratory performance featuring the traditional Korean folk song “Miryang Arirang.”

The “Local Journey” campaign is open to individuals and organizations both domestically and internationally. Participants can post photos or videos of their visits to “Local 100” regions on personal or institutional social media networks (YouTube, Instagram, KakaoTalk, Facebook, etc.). To participate, simply use keywords or hashtags, such as “Local 100,” “Local Journey,” or the name of the visited “Local 100” location in your posts. In addition, participants can tag two friends to join the campaign on their posts. Through a random draw, 100 participants will be selected to receive small souvenirs related to “Local 100.”

As the first participant in the “Local Journey” campaign, Minister YU plans to share videos and photos of his visits to Miryang and Tongyeong on MCST’s official YouTube and Instagram accounts. Additionally, he intends to encourage two friends to join the “Local Journey” campaign.

December 21: Minister YU Travels to Miryang to hear “Miryang Arirang”

Since taking office, Minister YU has consistently emphasized the “importance of on-site experiences.” Furthermore, on October 17, he appointed illustrator keykney as the promotional ambassador for “Local 100,” stating, “The key to regional development through culture begins with the ‘unique cultural aspects that only that region possesses.’” “We will boldly promote Local 100 through a lifestyle-centric and closely-tailored approach, aiming to make it inevitable for people to visit the regions.” In line with this, the first destination for the “Local Journey” campaign is Miryang in Gyeongsangnam-do, home to the “Miryang Arirang Festival.” Tracing its roots back to the Miryang Cultural Festival in 1957, the festival has evolved into Miryang’s representative festival, boasting a 65-year tradition and held annually around May. Beyond the scope of the annual consumer-oriented festival, Miryang boasts specialized “Arirang” content seamlessly integrated throughout various locations, such as Yeongnamnu, Yerim Seowon, Miryang Hyanggyo, and Miryang Arirang Art Center. Such content allows visitors to enjoy “Miryang Arirang” not only during the annual festival but throughout the entire year, making it a year-round attraction in Miryang.

On December 21 (Thur), Minister YU, along with more than 50 Young Cultural and Artistic Talents, Domestic and International Participants, celebrates the ceremony

As an integral component of the “Local 100 Train Journey - Milyang,” Minister YU will ride the Korea Train Express (KTX) to personally experience the local culture centered around “Miryang Arirang” as a specialized content. The comprehensive itinerary encompasses direct engagement with local residents and international visitors and listening to on-site opinions, with the aim of actively incorporating these insights into future regional cultural policies.

On December 22 (Fri), Minister YU meets Young Cultural and Artistic Talents at Tongyeong Concert Hall to Discuss Support Strategies

Continuing the journey, on December 22 (Fri), Minister YU will visit the cultural hub of Tongyeong, where the “Tongyeong International Music Festival (TIMF),” selected as “Local 100,” takes place. TIMF is the city’s flagship music festival, transforming the small fishing town into an international classical music city. In particular, the Tongyeong Concert Hall stands out as a dedicated classical venue, enriching the cultural landscape by providing access to high-quality classical for all residents in the region.

Minister YU will meet with young cultural and artistic talents at the concert hall to discuss ways to support the growth of young artists through regional culture. The conference will be attended by “2023 ISANGYUN COMPETITION” winner JUNG Gyu Bin; LEE Min Jin, a student majoring in Korean traditional music at Yong In University; and PARK Ye Won, the CEO of the cultural and arts consulting and planning firm “Ryu,” who is also active as a cultural arts consultant of MZ Dreamers (2030 Advisory Group) of MCST.

Cultivating Distinctive Local Cultures: Inspiring Visitors to Explore, Stay, and Live in the Region

Minister YU stated, “Just as enjoying Miryang Arirang in Miryang and classical music in Tongyeong, each region has its unique and captivating culture. The distinctive culture of each region serves as the force that makes local residents love their areas and becomes an attractive asset that draws both domestic and international visitors.” He further expressed, “Starting with Miryang and Tongyeong, I will continuously visit “Local 100” sites, immersing myself in the local culture, with the aim of making people want to visit, stay, and live in these regions through the power of culture.”