Gyeongju, South Korea — Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and the Gyeongbuk Culture & Tourism Corporation (GCTC) announced that they warmly welcomed a group of approximately 60 members of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) German team during their 1-2 day visit to Gyeongju. This special visit was organized as part of the ITF’s flagship program, known globally as the "Tul Tour."
The "Tul Tour" is an exclusive cultural and martial arts program designed to retrace the historical significance and roots behind the 24 "Tul" (patterns) of Taekwon-Do, which are inspired by key historical figures, patriots, and geographical landmarks of Korean history.
Gyeongsangbuk-do serves as an optimal hub for this educational tourism model because the region houses rich historical and cultural assets directly linked to six major patterns out of the 24 ITF tuls: Hwarang, Yushin, Wonhyo, Moonmu, Toegye, and Poeun. Following last year's visit by 23 overseas practitioners, the region has seen a sharp surge in global interest, with 135 participants from countries such as Germany, Greece, and Portugal visiting Gyeongbuk this year alone.
During their immersive 1-2 day itinerary in Gyeongju, the German delegation explored prominent UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Bulguksa Temple and the Seokguram Grotto, alongside the historic Tomb of King Munmu and Golgulsa Temple. Through professional cultural commentaries and heritage site explorations, the participants gained profound insights into Silla dynasty Buddhism and traditional Korean civilization, bridging the gap between theoretical Taekwon-Do training and firsthand experiential learning.
An official from the ITF remarked, "The Tul Tour holds immense value because it allows practitioners to witness and feel the actual historical contexts of the figures and events they study in their dojangs. Gyeongscangbuk-do is a crucial region for international practitioners to deeply understand the historical soul of Taekwon-Do due to its concentration of related cultural heritages."
Capitalizing on this growing trend, the Gyeongbuk Culture & Tourism Corporation is proactively targeting the Special Interest Tourism (SIT) market—travelers who possess distinct and purposeful motivations such as martial arts pilgrimage, history education, and cultural heritage exploration. By catering to the unique behavioral characteristics of SIT visitors who seek deep, authentic experiences, GCTC aims to boost regional visitor length of stay, stimulate local economic consumption, and foster long-staying, high-value tourism frameworks.
Kim Nam-il, President of the Gyeongbuk Culture & Tourism Corporation, stated, "Gyeongbuk possesses unmatched competitive advantages by seamlessly connecting world heritage sites and rich historical resources with Taekwon-Do. Moving forward, we will continue to aggressively target the special interest tourism market using Gyeongbuk’s differentiated content, transforming our region into a premier destination where international travelers can stay longer and experience Korean culture more deeply."
[Copyright (c) Global Economic Times. All Rights Reserved.]
