"Wallets Are Thinner, but No One's Giving Up Vacation"...How to Get Accommodation and Meal Discounts Plus 200,000 Won Support [The Principle of Benefits]

Discounts on Accommodation, Food, and Experiences in 52 Regions
Government and Companies Provide 200,000 Won in Travel Points

Editor's Note'The more you know, the more you see and save.' We live in an age overflowing with information, yet there are many benefits that pass us by simply because we don't know about them. In [The Principle of Benefits], we deliver useful information you can take advantage of in everyday life—things that will save you money if you know, and cost you if you don't.

"Where are you going for your vacation this year?"

This is a question often exchanged these days, right in the midst of vacation season. Responses are varied: "I'm planning a quick trip to nearby Japan," "I haven't made any plans yet," or "I'll go in September when it's less crowded." Many people also say, "Long-distance trips are too much so I'm planning a short vacation within Korea."

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Recently, due to rising prices and the burden of accommodation costs, the trend of taking several short trips rather than one long vacation—so-called "distributed vacations"—is spreading. More and more people are also choosing domestic travel by reducing travel distances or adjusting the number of nights away.

This trend is also reflected in domestic travel statistics. According to the "2025 National Travel Survey" released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, the domestic travel experience rate last year was 97.0%, up 1.6 percentage points from the previous year. Other key indicators like the number of trips, travel days, and travel spending all increased. On average, each person in Korea took 6.5 domestic trips and spent 852,000 won annually.

If you are planning a domestic trip this summer, there is a public service you should take note of. There is a system that provides discounts on accommodation, meals, and activities, and even helps cover your vacation expenses.

'Digital Tourism Resident ID' Reduces Travel Costs...Discounts on Accommodation, Food, and Experiences

To coincide with the summer vacation season, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety introduced a convenient, everyday public service that helps reduce travel expenses and makes domestic travel more accessible.

First, the 'Digital Tourism Resident ID' is a service that offers discounts to tourists visiting regions experiencing population decline. Once issued, you can receive discounts at various places such as lodging, restaurants, tourist attractions, and events.

By obtaining a 'Digital Tourism Resident Card,' you can enjoy various discount benefits on accommodations, food, experiences, and more. Screenshot from the 'Korea Tourism Organization' website

As of now, you can enjoy these benefits at over 1,500 partner stores in 52 regions, including eight new locations such as Boryeong in South Chungcheong Province and Damyang in South Jeolla Province, which were added in June. The goal is to reduce travel expenses for tourists while attracting more visitors to areas with declining populations in order to revitalize the local economy.

You can get the Digital Tourism Resident ID through the "Korea Tourism Organization" website and mobile application.

However, you cannot receive a Digital Tourism Resident ID for the area where your actual resident registration address is located.

To receive your discount, simply scan the "Integrated Tourism Resident ID QR code" at QR readers installed at partner stores. You can also show the QR code directly to a staff member for use.

The photo is not directly related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Yonhap News

"Pay 200,000 won, receive 400,000 won" ... Government and Companies Contribute to Vacation Expenses

The "Worker Vacation Support Program" is also available, through which the government and companies help cover domestic travel expenses for employees.

If an employee at a participating company pays 200,000 won, both the company and the government each add 100,000 won, creating a total of 400,000 won in travel points. These points can be used to purchase products such as accommodation, transportation, and leisure experiences through the dedicated online mall 'Vacation Shop.'

However, individual employees cannot apply directly; their companies must first agree to participate. The program is available to employees of midsize, small, and micro-enterprises, and companies wishing to join can apply through the Worker Vacation Support Program website.

The contribution ratio differs for midsize companies and for medium-sized businesses that have participated in the program for five consecutive years. In these cases, workers contribute 200,000 won, their companies contribute 150,000 won, and the government provides 50,000 won, for a total of 400,000 won in travel points.

The Worker Vacation Support Program was launched as a pilot in 2014, then significantly expanded from 2018. Last year, 124,544 employees from 13,660 companies participated. This year, the government is taking applications at the company level, planning to support around 100,000 people.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.