Seoul, South Korea – The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in collaboration with the Korea Tourism Organization, announced the winners of the 14th annual "Korea Tourism Star" awards at a ceremony held at Lotte Hotel in Seoul on December 18th. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding contributions to the tourism industry throughout the year.   

Among the winners, Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and Hangyeongdong emerged as the "Tourism Destination of the Year." The "New Tourist Attraction" category was awarded to the Daegu Ganson Museum, while the "Open Tourism" category went to the Siheung Gaetgol Ecological Park, known for its barrier-free accessibility.   

Other notable winners include:

Fusion Tourism Content: Jeju Island's Haenyeo's Kitchen and Andong Maenggae Village   

Regional Growth Promotion Content: Ganghwa Cooperative Cheongpung and Donghae Cultural Tourism Foundation   

Eco-friendly Tourism Content: Wando Cheongsando   

Co-prosperity Content: Daejeon Sungsimdang
Tourism Innovation Content: Orange Square (Wow Pass)   

Korean Tourism Promotional Media: EBS Korea Journey   

This year, the awards introduced five new categories to reflect the evolving trends in tourism, including fusion, response to depopulation, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices.   

"The success of K-tourism is largely due to the dedicated efforts of tourism professionals in the field," said Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Yoo In-chon. "Despite the challenges faced by the tourism industry due to unexpected domestic and international incidents, we will do our utmost to minimize the impact on the tourism market through closer communication."

The "Korea Tourism Star" award, first introduced in 2010 with the support of Maeil Business Newspaper, has become a highly regarded recognition in the Korean tourism industry. Winners are selected through a rigorous process involving recommendations from the public, local governments, and experts, followed by evaluation by a final judging committee.

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