By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee 

The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) will host the 2025 Seoul Welcome Week for eight days from April 25 to May 2 to welcome foreign tourists. This event takes place in conjunction with the peak spring tourism season, with Japan’s Golden Week (April 26 to May 6) and China’s Labor Day holidays (May 1 to May 5).

In cooperation with the Seoul Tourism Association, the SMG will operate the “Seoul Travel Station”, a welcome center for foreign tourists in Myeong-dong for eight days from April 25 to May 2.

Frequently visited by many foreign tourists, the tourist centers in the popular destination of Myeong-dong will operate various welcoming events and display welcome messages on outdoor electronic displays and taxi roof signs.

From Friday, April 25, to Friday, May 2, the Seoul Welcome Station will be set up in front of Myeong-dong Migliore, near Exit 6 of Myeong-dong subway station, a popular place for foreign tourists. Six multilingual operational staff workers (specifically two English speakers, two Chinese speakers, and two Japanese speakers) will be stationed to provide information and guidance.

Meanwhile, the Seoul Welcome Station will host a series of events and experience programs to make fun, memorable moments for tourists. The events include: 1) Trying on traditional Korean women’s hairstyle, Daenggi, 2) a lucky draw event which will present Seoul-made goods such as mother-of-pearl (Jagae in Korean) mirror bag charms, 3) Mini-games to win an “All-Pass Ticket to royal palaces in Seoul”, and 4) Welcome Goods for visitors, such as a cup of popcorns served in a Green Aurora-colored paint bucket.

Seven Travel Information Centers across Seoul, each located in Namdaemun, Itaewon, Dongdaemun, Gwanghwamun, Express Bus Terminal (Sebit), Seocho, and Jongno, will host smaller events during the Seoul Welcome Week.

Outdoor electronic displays across the Hongdae and Gangnam areas and over 2,000 taxi vehicles (MOTOV, vehicle rooftop display devices) will show warm, welcoming messages in English to create an atmosphere of hospitality throughout the city.

The SMG operated the Seoul Welcome Week last autumn, from October 1 to 8, with 98% of the foreign tourists who participated in the welcome events saying that they were “satisfied with their travels in Seoul”.

The total number of foreign tourists who experienced the event last year was 22,000. This year, the city government plans to host Seoul Welcome Week twice, in spring and fall, to further enhance tourist satisfaction and encourage future visits.