Oksunbong Peak in Danyang County, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, is one of many picturesque mountains in Korea that are perfect even for casual day hikes. Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

• ●“The K-Tour Top 10” promote trips to 39 cities outside of Seoul.

• ●“Korea Contents Week” offers a chance to experience Korean culture.

The soaring popularity of the Netflix survival drama series “Squid Game” has prompted people around the world to turn their eyes toward Korea, the home of the sensational show.

For those interested in touring the country, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is hosting its fifth and last special travel program of the year to attractions outside of Seoul, titled “The K-Tour Top 10.” The tours take visitors to 39 cities that are home to unique tourist attractions and are grouped into 10 themed trips.

One of the programs takes visitors to Daegu, Andong, Yeongju and Mungyeong under the theme of “Confucian Touches,” while another recommends hitting Gwangju, Mokpo, Damyang and Naju – better known as “Foodie Paradise.” “Brilliant Legacy” groups Daejeon, Gongju, Buyeo and Iksan as sites with significant historical remnants of the ancient Baekje Kingdom (18 BCE-660 CE) that flourished during the Three Kingdoms Period.

Other memorable themes include “Peaceful Borders” in Gyeonggi-do Province and Incheon; “Places of Creativity” in Gyeongsangnam-do Province; and “Coastal Nature” in Jeollanam-do Province.

A map for “The K-Tour Top 10.” Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

For individuals who can’t come to Korea due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are several other options available to get a taste of the country’s culture. One is a guided online travel package, which takes users on virtual tours to 10 different cities across the country – Busan, Gyeongju, Incheon, Jeonju, Gangneung, Danyang, Mungyeong, Yeosu, Damyang and Buyeo – along with extensive commentaries provided by five experts. The service is available until November 30.

One of the tour guides is Andreas Varsakopoulos, a Greek-American TV personality who has been living in Korea for nine years and has appeared in popular shows such as JTBC’s “Non-Summit” and MBC’s “South Korean Foreigners.” During the virtual tour of Incheon and Jeonju, he introduces the regions’ unique food and architecture “through the eyes of a local foreigner.”

Another way to experience Korean culture without traveling all the way to the country is through Korea Contents Week programs. Korean Cultural Centers in Paris, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Russia, Vietnam and Belgium have been holding related events at various times throughout the year.

Co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS), Korea Contents Week has been organizing K-pop performances, Korean food tasting and calligraphy events, among others in the seven countries since April.

Some notable events include the ongoing special exhibition, “Hangeul: the Korean alphabet meets design,” celebrating Hangeul Day on October 9 at the Korean Cultural Center in Paris.

In Hong Kong, on November 28, the center will host a collaborative performance between Kim Ji-sun, a Korean violinist who was born blind, and other local musicians at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

**Visit www.koreatraveleasy.com for more information about the online travel package for trips to 10 cities across Korea. If you have any questions about this article, feel free to contact us at kocis@korea.kr.**