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Pengsoo promotes 'industrial tourism' spots
Pengsoo feeds cows during his recent visit to Anseong Farmland in Gyeonggi Province in this photo provided by the Korea Tourism Organization, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization
By Jun Ji-hye
By Jun Ji-hye
The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has joined hands with Pengsoo, an outspoken penguin character that has become a YouTube star, to promote “industrial tourism” spots, seeking to ride on the popularity of the character and attract more visitors, the KTO said Wednesday.
Pengsoo, owned by educational TV station EBS, recently visited Anseong Farmland in Gyeonggi Province that offers visitors a chance to enjoy various experience programs related to agricultural and dairy industries.
During the visit, Pengsoo participated in activities such as feeding cows, chasing sheep and making cheese.
Anseong Farmland is one of the 20 industrial tourism spots worth visiting, selected last year by the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism, and the KTO.
The locations showing the nation's industrial development were selected out of some 470 places ranging from cutting-edge industrial facilities and corporate museums.
Other sites include Samsung Innovation Museum, Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang, Amore Pacific Story Garden and POSCO Museum.
Pengsoo's visit to Anseong Farmland will be aired on EBS1 TV at 8:40 p.m. Friday, and on Pengsoo's YouTube channel, Giant Peng TV, Monday.
“We expect Pengsoo's visit to Anseong Farmland to raise interest in industrial tourism spots and attract more children and youngsters during the winter vacation,” said Han Yeo-ok, director of the Regional Tourism Contents Team at KTO.
The 10-year-old penguin who is 210 centimeters tall became a hit with millennials following its television and radio appearances, as well as its own YouTube channel, which now boasts more than 1.87 million subscribers.
Amid explosive popularity of Pengsoo here, not only government agencies but also companies across industries have been striving to use the character for commercials, collaborative goods and other types of ads as consumers are buying all Pengsoo goods in sight.
Dongwon F&B collaborated with Pengsoo to promote its canned tuna products, while Eland World's apparel brand SPAO partnered with the character to launch its clothing goods from mid-December to promote its 10th anniversary.
LG Household & Health, a cosmetic manufacturer, also worked with Pengsoo. Pengsoo visited LG H&H's Nature Collection store to receive training as a beauty consultant and was featured in the company's commercial.
Vivaldi Park ski resort also announced a collaboration with Pengsoo, making a photo zone where visitors can make memories with Pengsoo and installed a sculpture of Pengsoo.