Gyeonggi Tourism Organization on the afternoon of the 8th launched the 15th class of its KkiTour Reporters, a specialized editorial team that will leverage current social-media trends to spotlight Gyeonggi Province’s lesser-known attractions.
The agency said it held a launch ceremony at Trade Tower in Gangnam, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 8th. The 15th cohort drew unprecedented interest: roughly 720 people applied for 30 spots, yielding about a 24-to-1 competition ratio.
Officials assessed applicants’ reporting and content-creation skills and reviewed platform-specific activity on Naver Blog, Instagram and TikTok before selecting 30 members — 10 more than last year. The larger class reflects a deliberate push to expand video promotion through Reels and other short-form formats amid a rapidly changing media landscape.
The name KkiTour Reporters plays on the initials for Gyeonggi (ㄱㄱ) and the Korean word '끼' (kki), which connotes talent or creative spark. From this month through November — a seven-month campaign — the reporters will visit key destinations across the province to produce review-style content. Their pieces will be distributed via the Gyeonggi Tourism Platform and the reporters’ personal social channels, serving as a catalyst to boost tourism in the region.
Reporters will receive a monthly honorarium and be granted priority access to press tours and events at major local attractions. The agency hopes these distinctive stories will do more than inform — they should translate into real visits.
A Gyeonggi Tourism official urged, "Having been selected through fierce competition, embrace your responsibility as ambassadors for Gyeonggi tourism. Uncover the province’s lesser-known resources and present them to the public with distinctive content."
/Kim Hyun-woo, Reporter kimhw@incheonilbo.com
