Korea Tourism Organization Hosts Reading Event at Anmok Beach in Conjunction with the Gangneung Coffee Festival (Oct. 21–25)
Book Concerts by Noh Hong-chul, Yozoh, and Kim Shin-hoe; 200 Books to Be Donated to Local Libraries

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) are hosting 'Sea 24 Hours: Book Trip' (hereinafter referred to as 'Book Trip') around Gangneung Anmok Beach from the 21st to the 25 of this month. This event has been newly planned as a marine tourism content combining coffee and reading culture, linked with the 'Gangneung Coffee Festival,' which attracts approximately 300,000 visitors annually. The initiative aims to naturally encourage visitors to stay longer in the region and expand the appeal of marine tourism by offering them a relaxing experience of enjoying books and coffee alongside the sea in the pine forest of Anmok Beach.

At the Book Trip venue, a book lounge featuring around 200 books organized into four distinct themes—▲Sea Table (Gastronomy), ▲Snap Trip (Photography), ▲Gangneung Regional Content (Local), and ▲Travel & Coffee (Hobbies)—has been prepared to reflect the diverse tastes of visitors. Alongside this, interactive programs are being operated, including a 'Bookmark Workshop' where visitors can design their own bookmarks, a 'Sea Wish Travel Destination' to write down desired sea destinations and wishes, and a 'Sea PICK Photo Spot' to capture special memories against the backdrop of books and the sea.

Book concerts featuring special invited guests will also be held. On the 24th, broadcaster Noh Hong-chul, who operates a bookstore in Haebangchon, Seoul, will open the talk under the theme of 'Sea Travel and Reading.' Following this on the 25th, starting with a performance by a bandoneon ensemble team, singer-songwriter and author Yozoh—who operates a bookstore in Jeju Island—and author Kim Shin-hoe will hold a book talk under the theme, 'What Page is the Sound of the Waves?' After the event concludes, the 200 books displayed in the Book Trip book lounge will be donated to the Gangneung City Library to share with the local community.

Lee Geun-hee, Head of the Regional Content Promotion Team at the KTO, stated, "This event was planned to increase tourists' length of stay and provide a differentiated marine tourism experience by adding the cultural sensibility of 'reading' to Gangneung's regional specialized assets of 'sea and coffee.' We hope visitors will create unforgettable memories while fully resting with a book amid the sound of autumn waves and the subtle scent of coffee."

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]