From accommodation and gourmet food to hot springs and historical travel linked with races… Providing customized regional travel programs for runners 

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization (hereinafter KTO) will host the "NEXT RUN Travel Festa" (hereinafter the Festa) this coming October, designed to expand regional running competitions into overnight stay travel.

Making its debut this year, the Festa centers around running events partnered with renowned IPs, such as "R1 2026 Jeonju" (Oct. 17–18) co-hosted with the YouTube channel "With Sean" (BKIND Co., Ltd.) and "Bomun Night Run with Waldo" (Oct. 31–Nov. 1) utilizing Universal’s iconic character "Waldo." First, the KTO will introduce discounted packages combining accommodations and race entry tickets so that participants can stay and travel in the region before and after the competitions. In addition, customized attractions tailored for runners—such as relaxation-focused programs concentrating on stamina recovery, which runners frequently demand—have been prepared to enable participants to explore and experience the region directly through running.

Various programs will unfold at each event around the event hub (NEXT RUN HUB). At the "R1 2026 Jeonju" venue, a variety of experiential events will be operated, including ▲"Warm-up Running" with national team coaches, ▲a "Carbo-loading Dining Cooking Show" by runner chefs, and ▲a "Recovery Tour" of downtown Jeonju. The "Bomun Night Run with Waldo" event will feature ▲a Gyeongju stamp tour with Waldo and ▲"24-Hour NO CHECK-IN TRIP," allowing participants to relax in hot springs after the race ends. Furthermore, the stamp tour book provided as part of the runner packages adds excitement to regional tourism through a mission-based event where participants collect "Where's Waldo" stamps across various tourist spots.

Detailed information, including applications for the Festa travel programs, can be found on the KTO's "Koreatravel" (Visit Korea) promotional page for travel products and the dedicated "NEXT RUN" page on Lotte ON.

Park Jung-woong, Head of the Tourism Welfare Division at the KTO, stated, "We aim to present a new tourism trend where running competition participants do not just leave the region right after the race, but enjoy traveling in various ways before and after the event," adding, "We will continue to expand stay-based local tourism contents that allow visitors to stay longer in regions and rediscover their charms."

Meanwhile, the KTO has also been promoting the "Run Trip Discount: ON" project in partnership with Lotte ON since May. It offers up to 55,000 won in discounts when purchasing domestic run trip packages of one night or more, along with maximum discount benefits on running gear such as shoes and apparel. In addition, "Korea NEXT RUN Trip" travel products themed around river, mountain, and ocean running are currently being operated.

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