County aims to draw more tourists with train fare reimbursements and car-sharing discounts
Hampyeong-gun is running a travel incentive campaign tied to the 2026 Korea Chrysanthemum Festival, which opens Friday, offering rail passengers a range of benefits to encourage visits to the county.
The county announced Wednesday that it will operate the "2026 Second-Half Travel Month" campaign through Nov. 30 to ease the financial burden on rail travelers and boost local tourism.
The campaign targets tourists who purchase a Free Independent Travel package to Hampyeong through the Korea Railroad Corporation website. Participants receive a full refund of their train fare in the form of discount coupons redeemable on future train bookings.
This year, Hampyeong-gun also introduced a new car-sharing benefit through an MOU with Socar. Tourists who use a Socar vehicle during their trip can receive a Socar mileage coupon worth 50 percent of their rental fee, up to 50,000 won ($38).
The county said it expects the support to improve mobility for rail tourists and help them explore attractions across Hampyeong that are difficult to reach by public transportation alone.
Meanwhile, the 2026 Korea Chrysanthemum Festival runs from Friday through Nov. 8 — 17 days in total — at Hampyeong Expo Park under the theme "Mythological Chrysanthemum Garden."
This year's festival features an array of chrysanthemum sculptures and themed walkways depicting scenes from mythology, including "Hill of Myths," "The Talking Tree" and "Goddess of Water." Visitors can stroll through an enchanting mythological world while taking in the beauty of chrysanthemums and a variety of autumn sights.
Hampyeong-gun County Chief Lee Nam-o said he hopes tourists attending the festival will take the train to Hampyeong and enjoy the various travel benefits on offer. "I also hope visitors will savor the deepening autumn atmosphere in Hampyeong alongside local food and attractions," he added.
kkm9971@heraldcorp.com
