Seoul Jung-gu Tour Pass offered at up to 67% off from Sept. 9 to Sept. 17; special pricing available exclusively on Naver Smart Store, with tickets valid through Oct. 31
"From Sept. 9 through Oct. 9, we are offering 999 tickets per pass type at 9,900 won each!"
Seoul's Jung-gu has designed a special September promotion built around the number nine, and has expanded the Seoul Jung-gu Tour Pass network to include the "Hipdang-dong" commercial district around Sindang Station — an area previously excluded from the pass program.
Starting Wednesday at 10 a.m. and running through Sept. 17, the district will sell the Seoul Jung-gu Tour Pass at a steep discount. The pass lets holders visit major attractions, cafes and other venues in the district for free or at reduced prices using a single mobile ticket.
During the nine-day sale, three package and combined-pass types — excluding the basic pass — will be available at 9,900 won ($11) each, a discount of up to 67 percent, with 999 tickets per type on offer. The discounted passes will be sold exclusively through Naver Smart Store, with a limit of four tickets per person. Purchased tickets can be used through Oct. 31, covering the upcoming Chuseok holiday and the autumn travel season.
A single pass unlocks key Jung-gu landmarks including the Namsan Cable Car, Deoksugung Palace and the Sparex Goodmorning City jjimjilbang. For example, buying a round-trip Namsan Cable Car ticket (15,000 won), a Lotte Department Store main branch food and beverage voucher (5,000 won) and a Hey Tea Myeong-dong drink (6,400 won) separately would cost 26,400 won in total — but with the 9,900-won promotional pass, visitors who stop at just those three spots would save more than 16,000 won.
The district has also added three traditional market vendors in the Sindang Station area — recently gaining attention as "Hipdang-dong" — as new tour pass affiliates. Pass holders can enjoy complimentary local snacks at Himnaeara Tteoktwisun (four mini kimbap rolls), Bubu Tteokjip (one pack of honey rice cakes and wind rice cakes) and Sohuirae (two oranda rice crackers) in the Seoul Jungang and Sinjungang markets.
Jung-gu plans to use the promotion to draw visitors from major attractions into nearby alley commercial districts. The district aims to boost its tourism competitiveness through "stay-and-explore tourism" — encouraging longer visits — while driving growth for local businesses at the same time.
Jung-gu District Mayor Kim Gil-sung said he hopes the promotion will give tourists a chance to enjoy the district's diverse charms at a special price while giving local businesses a new burst of energy through a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Meanwhile, the Seoul Jung-gu Tour Pass, which debuted last year, is available year-round through various online channels including the Tour Pass Mall. After purchase, the ticket is sent via KakaoTalk and can be used immediately without downloading a separate app.
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
