KUALA LUMPUR - North Chungcheong Provincial Office announced a series of initiatives to attract more foreign visitors, including improved transportation access and expanded tourism, shopping and incentive programmes.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism reported that Korea welcomed a record 18.7 million foreign visitors in 2025, with North Chungcheong receiving over 100,000 arrivals at Cheongju International Airport, up 40,000 from the previous year.

The province plans to operate a demand-responsive transportation system connecting key transport hubs such as Cheongju International Airport and Osong Station with major tourist attractions, as reported by The Korea Times.

The initiative aims to enhance mobility for international visitors and encourage exploration of destinations within North Chungcheong Province.

C-SQUARE, a travel lounge at Yongdu Temple Iron Flagpole Plaza in Cheongju, will serve as a tourism hub offering hands-on experiences with local beauty products, regional cuisine and shopping information, as well as luggage storage.

The province intends to expand the C-Pass shopping voucher programme to boost spending by foreign tourists.

Group tour incentives, including subsidies for charter flights from markets such as China, will continue to be offered.

Overseas marketing efforts will include tourism promotion booths, briefings and familiarisation tours to develop customised tourism products.

Particular focus will be placed on promoting regional tourism packages linked to Cheongju International Airport, given the sharp rise in inbound travel from China.

To support longer stays, the province recently amended its tourism promotion ordinance to provide incentives for private sector investment in accommodation and tourism-related businesses.

The provincial office said the amendment is the first of its kind in Korea and is expected to enhance hospitality infrastructure, visitor satisfaction and global competitiveness.

“We will proactively leverage the expansion of the inbound tourism market and make full use of the strengths of Cheongju International Airport and Osong Station to build an accessible and attractive tourism environment.

“Our goal is to establish North Chungcheong as a must-visit destination for international travellers,” the office said.

North Chungcheong Province also recorded the fastest growth in international student enrolment in the country, nearly doubling from 5,053 in 2024 to 10,537 in 2025, a 92.1 percent increase.

The provincial office estimated that attracting 10,000 international students generates about 212.2 billion won annually for the regional economy.

The surge in students coincides with growth in the province’s foreign resident population, which reached 80,416 by September 2025, or 4.81 percent of the total population of 1,672,847.

Non-professional employment visas (E-9) accounted for 25.7 percent of foreign residents, followed by overseas Koreans (F-4) at 20.2 percent and international students (D-2 and D-4) at 13.3 percent.

Eumseong County and Jincheon County had the highest shares of foreign residents at 16.68 percent and 12.51 percent respectively, while Cheongju hosted the largest number at 28,555, mainly in Heungdeok and Cheongwon districts.

Officials noted that over 58 percent of foreign residents are in their 20s and 30s, contributing to labour supply and cultural and consumer activity in the province.

“The era of 80,000 foreign residents signifies that Chungbuk has entered a new phase of growth based on diversity and inclusion.

“By attracting international students and skilled global talent, we aim to address labour shortages while ensuring foreign residents can grow as partners in the local community alongside provincial residents,” the provincial office said.

The K-Guardian programme, launched in October 2024, assigns local businesses to mentor international students, supporting their cultural adaptation, academic success and career development.

Starting with 31 mentors, the programme assisted 71 students from seven local colleges in 2025, and the office plans to expand it this year to provide further career opportunities.