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Seoul tourism hub extends hours, adds local experiences, fall pop-up
Nighttime view of Seoul / Korea Times file
By Lee Kyung-min
A downtown Seoul tourism hub is extending its hours into the evening and adding new local experiences, giving visitors a chance to explore regional food, culture and travel offerings before taking in the city’s nighttime skyline.
The Regional Tourism Antenna Shop near Seoul City Hall includes a national travel hall, a regional goods shop and a rooftop.
Eight local governments — Gangwon, Gyeonggi, Gyeongbuk, Andong, Gwangju-Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, Jeju and Chungnam — currently participate in the project.
The rooftop will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every Thursday through Saturday, serving as a starting point for nighttime walking tours, running groups and other evening tourism programs.
From Sept. 1, two Seoul walking-tour courses covering Jeong-dong and Deoksu Palace will also begin from the Antenna Shop.
The travel hall and goods shop will extend their hours from noon to 9 p.m. every Saturday from August through October.
The city and the Seoul Tourism Organization will also expand local tourism and cultural programs to Korean residents, with monthly one-day classes featuring regional themes.
Classes will include a Gangwon coffee tasting session in August, a Jeonnam green tea candle workshop in September, a Gyeonggi ceramic gardening class in October and a Jeju citrus-themed workshop in November.
Each session will accept 20 participants on a first-come, first-served basis, with separate monthly programs for Korean and foreign participants.
Seven local governments will also join a five-day tourism and food pop-up from Oct. 21 through 25, following a food-focused event that drew more than 10,000 visitors in the first half of the year.
Cho Seong-ho, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Tourism and Sports Bureau, said the Antenna Shop will connect travelers with new destinations while helping regions promote their tourism resources in Seoul.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.