The introduction of an online driver's license stored in a smartphone instead of a wallet or purse has marked the dawn of the mobile ID era.The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Korean National Police Agency on Jan. 27 launched pilot issuance of the mobile driver's license that is as legal

UNWTO has launched the first in a series of tourism investment guidelines focused on a specific country. Developed alongside the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic and the National Export and Investment Center (PRODOMINICANA), the new guide provides key insights for investors, with the ai

First lady of President Moon Jae-in, who is on an official visit to Egypt, on Jan. 20 met Korea.net's Honorary Reporters and K-influencers at the hotel St. Regis Cairo and called them the "driving force of Hallyu fervor."At the meeting titled "K-culture, colored with the Nile," she said, "The variou

The important role that tourism will play in the recovery of national economies and global trade has been highlighted in the 2022 edition of the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) report by the United Nations. Drawing on data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), WESP underlines th

Anyone entering Korea from abroad starting on Jan. 20 is banned from taking public transportation when leaving the airport after arrival, and must use their own cars or take a quarantine-designated bus, train or taxi.The Central Disease Control Headquarters on Jan. 13 told a regular briefing, "As th

The country on Jan. 13 will launch the use of oral medication for COVID-19 for 21,000 people, with the pills from Jan. 14 to be prescribed and administered to patients age 65 or over or those with lower immune function. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on Jan. 12 announce

UNWTO is pleased to announce the successful completion of the election process for the Board of Directors of Affiliate Members for the period 2022-2025.UNWTO expresses its satisfaction with the active participation of the Affiliate Members in the voting process and its full conviction that UNWTO and

This month saw the minimum wage rise 5% to KRW 9,160 per hour, up KRW 440 from last year's. In this year's second half, the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) will have a speaking section. And self-driving buses will operate in downtown Seoul.These are among major changes in the country in 2022 o

This has been another challenging year for our societies, our economies and tourism. Many millions of jobs and businesses remain in peril, at the mercy of an evolving crisis and of the actions of governments. However, we are by no means in the same place we were when the pandemic was declared in Mar

The government has extended for two weeks social distancing measures limiting the number of people at a private gathering to four and imposing a 9 p.m. curfew for restaurants and cafes. The move seeks to reorganize the medical response system and counter the threat of the omicron variant of COVID-19

President Moon Jae-in on Dec. 27 paid tribute to the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, saying the anti-apartheid life in which he sought reconciliation and forgiveness through the truth of history will be forever remembered by humanity. On social media, the president said Tutu inspired m

UNWTO and the Asian Development Bank have launched a joint report on the use of big data for better tourism planning and management.The report features examples from across the Asia and the Pacific region while also showcasing the main trends in the use of big data in tourism at the forefront of tec

The government has finalized an upgraded plan for its 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030 from 2018 levels.The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism next year will focus on solidifying the country's status as a global cultural power through spreading Hallyu (Korean Wave), quickly recovering culture in daily life and establishing the foundation for the future of culture, sports and tourism. The ministry

The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative has welcomed a further 21 signatories, taking the total number past 110. The new signatories have been announced alongside the launch of a first annual report, which makes clear the significant progress made in tackling plastics pollution in tourism over the pa

This International Civil Aviation Day, the UN Aviation and World Tourism organizations (ICAO/UNWTO) have issued a joint call for efforts to reconnect the world to be accelerated.The COVID-19 pandemic brought global air mobility and tourism to an abrupt halt. It also pressed pause on trillions of dol

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the GSMA, the global association unifying the mobile ecosystem, have announced a partnership to promote the upskilling of people in underserved communities, engaged in tourism. With their combined expertise in responsible tourism and mobile connectivity, th

The number of people allowed at a private gathering from Dec. 6 will be six in the Greater Seoul area and eight in other regions for four weeks.The vaccine pass system will also be expanded to require people to show proof of vaccination vs. COVID-19 or a negative result from a diagnostic test when e

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister Hwang Hee) and the Korea Tourism Organization (President Ahn Young-bae) announced that Sinan 'Purple Island' and Gochang 'Goindol and Ungok Wetland Village' were selected as the best tourist villages at the '1st UNWTO The Best Tourism Villages Pi

One out of five destinations continue to have their borders completely closed as new surges of COVID-19 impact the restart of international tourism. The latest research shows that still 98% of all destinations have some kind of travel restrictions in place.According to the UNWTO Travel Restrictions