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Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Too close to Seoul to stand out? Gyeonggi bets on independent travelers to revive tourism
Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds Seoul and is home to over 13 million people, is rolling out a new strategy in hopes of attracting more international tourists. Despite being one of South Korea's most accessible regions from the capital, trouble navigating often keeps foreign visitors away. In an attempt to address the situation, the province announced its '3.3.5.5 Strategy." Despite its size, access to the DMZ, and proximity to Incheon Airport, Gyeonggi Province's share of foreign visitors dropped from 14.9 percent in 2019 to around 10 percent in 2024, according to data from South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Seoul's share has long held at around 80 percent. Meanwhile, the country's tourism landscape has changed. Over 80.5 percent of foreign tourists in 2024 were Free Independent Travelers — those who plan trips on their own rather than booking through a group tour. In 2019, FITs made up 77.1 percent. Gyeonggi now wants to target this growing segment. The strategy sets four measurable goals: Boost international visitor share from 10 to 30 percent. Increase average stays from 2.13 days to 3 days. Raise spending per tourist from 350,000 won to 500,000 won (about $215 to $360). Improve the repeat visitation rate from 34 to 50 percent. Why Gyeonggi gets overlooked The paradox is that Gyeonggi is geographically convenient, but functionally inaccessible. Booking regional buses and trains often requires Korean-language apps or domestic credit cards. Car rentals are available, but GPS systems and maps are primarily designed for local users. Google Maps still lacks turn-by-turn navigation in Korea. Korean apps like Naver Map and Kakao Map support English, Chinese and Japanese, but often fall short for tourists unfamiliar with Korean signage or cultural context. These barriers help explain why South Korea, despite ranking No. 14 overall in the World Economic Forum's 2023 Travel and Tourism Development Index, landed at No. 60 in tourism services and infrastructure. What the province plans to fix To address this, Gyeonggi Provinceworked with national tourism agencies, universities, and research institutes to develop a four-part action plan. It includes: Improved transportation: more shuttle buses, FIT-friendly day tours, a new tourist taxi system, and a dedicated Gyeonggi tourism center in Seoul. Better digital tools: smarter booking platforms and information services for foreign users. Expanded experiences: DMZ tours, regional food programs, and new outdoor and industrial tourism offerings. Targeted marketing: a global tourism brand and campaigns focused on younger travelers. Officials say implementation will begin in 2026, starting with high-impact projects. The province also plans to work with Seoul and Incheon to create a regional tourism network and is pushing the national government to ease lodging and transportation regulations. 'Our goal is to make Gyeonggi Province a place where international visitors can explore freely and comfortably,' said Jang Hyang-jeong, the province's tourism policy director. 'We want them to discover that Korea is more than just Seoul.'
Korea Herald
28-04-2025
- Korea Herald
SK Telecom stores overwhelmed as customers rush to replace USIM cards over security fears
SK Telecom plans to secure 5m more USIM cards by late May, but that would still fall far short of covering its 25m users What was meant to reassure customers after a major security scare quickly turned into long lines, delays and frustration, as SK Telecom's free USIM card replacement program struggled to meet overwhelming demand on its first day. Earlier this month, South Korea's largest mobile carrier disclosed that it had discovered malware inside a key internal system, the Home Subscriber Server — the database that manages mobile user identities and network authentication. The discovery raised concerns that sensitive information stored on customers' physical USIM cards — including identifiers needed to verify a user's phone on the network — may have been exposed. To address security concerns, the company promised free physical USIM card replacements to all affected customers — over 25 million people in total. It also urged customers to enroll in its "USIM Protection Service," a security feature that blocks network access if a cloned USIM card is inserted into an unauthorized device by verifying the phone's IMEI number — a unique identifier assigned to each mobile device, like a digital fingerprint. SK Telecom emphasized that enrolling in the service offers a level of safety comparable to replacing the card. Long lines, empty hands At SK Telecom's store near Sookmyung Women's University station in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, customers lined up early Monday morning, only to find that the stock of USIM cards had already been depleted. The store had posted an online notice days earlier on Naver Map, warning that over 500 reservations had already been made. Inside, two overwhelmed employees explained that early reservation holders could swap their USIM cards immediately, while walk-ins have to book new appointments — later this week if done in person, or next week if scheduled online through SK Telecom's website ( "Even with endless stock, two of us can only replace about 100 cards a day," one staffer said. For most waiting in line, security fears, not inconvenience, drove the urgency. A woman in her 50s said she had booked her appointment "as soon as news of the breach broke." Nearby, a man in his 60s, who had received SK Telecom's security alert via text, called the breach "very serious" and said he felt far safer physically replacing his USIM card than relying solely on the network-based protection service. Others shared similar views. A university student in his 20s said he "did not expect immediate financial theft" but felt "uncomfortable leaving compromised data unaddressed." A man in his 30s, who had learned about the breach only through news reports, said he "found the situation unsettling enough to warrant a prompt replacement." The reservation website struggled under demand as well. By mid-morning, more than 97,000 customers were queued for reservations. At major airports like Incheon, SK Telecom expanded roaming center staffing by 50 percent and pledged that even if customers missed replacement opportunities before departing, the company would be liable for any subsequent overseas fraud involving cloned USIM cards. Currently, SK Telecom holds around one million USIM cards, with plans to secure five million more by late May. Given the scale, shortages are expected to persist for weeks. Experts assurance amid anxiety Amid these mounting anxieties from customers, cybersecurity professor Kim Seung-joo of Korea University told The Korea Herald that replacing the UICC smart card containing the USIM application resets the crucial IMSI and K values, neutralizing the impact of the leaked data. "When you replace your USIM card, the identifiers are regenerated. You can rest assured after replacement," Kim said. He confirmed that SK Telecom's USIM Protection Service also provides strong interim protection by blocking cloned cards from accessing the network. "Enroll in the service first if necessary, and replace the USIM card later when the rush subsides," he advised. Kim also confirmed that leaked USIM card data alone cannot directly lead to bank account theft. mjh@
Korea Herald
27-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Naver, Kakao bolster map services to counter Google's data export push
As Google seeks regulatory approval to export high-precision map data from Korea, local IT giants Naver and Kakao are ramping up their efforts to reinforce their map services -- both in functionality and user experience -- in a strategic push to defend their home turf. 'Google appears to be taking an aggressive stance. Coupled with the trade tensions sparked by the Donald Trump administration in the US, the situation has become challenging for local companies. Domestic map application developers have been launching new services, compelled to bolster their competitiveness in the face of mounting pressure,' said an industry source, who requested anonymity. Naver is focusing on enhancing services tailored for foreign users, according to industry sources on Sunday. The company plans to ease membership requirements for Naver Pay, enabling easier booking and payment processes directly through the Naver Map app for international users. The update is slated for rollout in the first half of this year. The platform has also expanded multilingual support -- including English, Japanese and Chinese -- and improved its translation features to offer more detailed information on locations such as franchise restaurants. In December, Naver launched a multilingual "How to Use Naver Map" guide page, offering step-by-step instructions for finding attractions and navigating public transportation in Korea. Additionally, the company is running a 'Be Local' campaign, which introduces popular destinations and hot spots favored by Korean Millennial and Generation Z users in areas like Myeong-dong, Seongsu, Itaewon and Hannam-dong. Naver launched the campaign targeting foreign tourists because Google has been advocating for the export of high-precision maps by citing the "convenience of foreign tourists" as a justification. Currently, the maps that Google can use in its services without government approval are at a scale of 1:25,000, which is less precise than its maps in other countries. Google argues that it causes inconvenience to foreign tourists in Korea and is therefore requesting government permission to export high-precision maps. A Naver official said, 'We aim to help foreign users navigate Korea conveniently through the multilingual Naver Map and immerse themselves in local culture and trends.' While Naver refines foreign user-focused functions, Kakao is doubling down on hyperlocal services. Its newly introduced 'Expert Profile' feature connects users to local professionals in categories such as interior design, floristry, baking, moving and even fortunetelling. Once users find a suitable expert, they can chat and make a reservation within the app -- a strategic step to strengthen Kakao's neighborhood-level utility. Kakao Map has also expanded its public transit data and lodging reservation features to help users manage their daily activities in a single app. In partnership with Korea Airports Corporation, Kakao offers indoor navigation services at major airports, highlighting the locations of commercial facilities, restrooms and childcare areas. These upgrades are translating into measurable user growth. According to Mobile Index, Naver Map's monthly active users reached 27.05 million last month -- surpassing its previous record of 26.99 million from August 2023. The app continues to lead the domestic navigation app market. Kakao Map posted even sharper growth, with March MAU jumping 10.8 percent from the previous month to 11.71 million -- far outpacing Google Maps with a 3.1 percent increase and Naver Map with a 2.1 percent increase. Experts attribute this surge to Kakao's success in integrating map functions into users' daily routines.
