The cover of the latest issue of "GCTO." [Provided by Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Organization]
The cover of the latest issue of "GCTO." [Provided by Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Organization]

The Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Organization announced Wednesday that it has published the latest issue of its culture and tourism magazine "GCTO" and will distribute it to more than 2,000 locations nationwide.

The new issue features in-depth interviews with a range of people connected to North Gyeongsang Province — from a female mountaineer and former organization employee who settled at the foot of Jirisan's Cheonwangbong peak, to world-renowned author Jeong Bo-ra, who was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize in 2022 for her short story collection "Cursed Bunny" and has since made her home in Pohang.

The issue is also packed with local tourism content, including a "North Gyeongsang Run Trip" course designed for the country's 10 million runners — reflecting the recent surge in running culture — as well as four recommended wellness destinations in the province for those seeking genuine rest in an age of dopamine overload.

The special feature spotlights the 2026 PATA Annual Summit, held in Gyeongju and Pohang this year. The event marked the first time an international PATA gathering had been held in North Gyeongsang Province in 47 years, since a PATA workshop took place there in 1979.

The issue also covers the historic election of Oh Chang-hee as the new PATA chair — the first Korean to hold the position in the organization's history — a milestone that reflects the growing stature of South Korea's tourism industry.

Also drawing attention is the story of Kwon Sun-geum, head of Borim Photo Studio, who has documented the landscapes and people of Gyeongju from the early 1970s to the present day.

Equally remarkable is the story of the late photographer Seok Gi-sam, dubbed "South Korea's first human drone artist," who documented the 1979 PATA workshop and later captured aerial views of the millennium city of Gyeongju using an ultralight aircraft he purchased at great personal financial cost.

His passion and pioneering spirit — he was Kwon's husband and a former organization employee — are sure to leave a strong impression on readers.

The issue also shares the story of Seo Sang-hwan, an assistant manager at Bomun Golf Club, and his family, who celebrated a double joy last year when the organization marked its 50th anniversary and his wife gave birth to triplets.

Rounding out the issue are the stories of a couple who sell ocean sunfish — known locally as a "new world of texture" — at Jukdo Market in Pohang, and Choi Gi-han, owner of "Ppeongtwigi Cheongguk," who has spent 53 years as a puffed-rice master at Jain Market in Gyeongsan, calling out his signature cry with unwavering dedication.

Readers who wish to subscribe to "GCTO" can contact the organization's planning and public relations team to receive copies by mail on a first-come, first-served basis.

"We will continue to work in harmony with local communities, uncovering and reporting on outstanding content to produce a comprehensive culture and tourism magazine that spreads the vibrant appeal of North Gyeongsang Province far and wide," said Kim Nam-il, president of the Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Organization.


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com