Korea’s Jeju to issue NFT tourist cards to boost Gen Z visitors: Report

South Korea’s Jeju Island, a self-governing tourist hotspot, will reportedly trial NFT tourist cards in a bid to attract the country’s younger generation.

Local news outlet the Maeil Business Newspaper reported on Jan. 5 that Jeju plans to issue digital tourism cards in the second half of 2025 in conjunction with an NFT, which will also come with a slate of perks.

The island hopes the digital and NFT-based travel cards will pique the interest of millennials and Generation Z — those born between the late 1980s and early 2010s — and increase the rate of returning younger tourists.

Jeju is South Korea’s largest island and a tourist hotspot known for hiking trails and resorts. It’s the country’s first self-governing province with its own local government that has a history with crypto initiatives, having launched a blockchain-based COVID-19 contact tracing app in 2021.

The NFT-linked tourist cards, which will first undergo a trial before a slated full rollout in the second half of 2025, will offer travel subsidies and discounts on tourist spots around the island.

South Koreans flocked back to crypto late last year as the markets rose on renewed regulatory optimism in the United States. 

Democratic Party of Korea Representative Lim Kwang-Hyun said last month that the number of South Korean crypto users increased by 610,000 in November 2024, bringing the total number to 15.6 million, about 30% of the country’s population.

NFT sales volumes reached a total of $8.83 billion in 2024, beating 2023 figures by $100 million but still far down from their peak year in 2022, where they recorded $23.7 billion in sales volumes.

Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/south-korea-jeju-island-nft-tourist-cards

Comprehension

What is Jeju Island planning to introduce in 2025?
What will the NFT tourist cards offer to users?
Who is Jeju Island hoping to attract with the digital and NFT-based travel cards?
What is Jeju Island known for?
What is significant about Jeju Island’s government structure?
When will the NFT-linked tourist cards first be trialed?
How did South Koreans react to the crypto market last year?
How many crypto users were reported in South Korea in November 2024?

Discussion

How do you think NFT tourist cards will change the travel experience for younger tourists?
Why do you think Jeju Island is targeting millennials and Generation Z with this initiative?
Do you think digital and NFT-based cards are a good way to attract tourists? Why or why not?
What other ways could digital technology be used to improve tourism?
How important is it for tourist destinations to stay updated with trends like NFTs and digital innovations?
What do you think are the benefits of offering travel subsidies and discounts through NFTs?
How does the increasing number of crypto users in South Korea impact the country’s tourism industry?
Why might NFT sales have dropped since their peak in 2022?
Do you think NFTs will continue to be popular in the future? Why or why not?
What are some potential risks of using NFTs for tourism promotions?

Vocabulary

Trial – A test or experiment to see if something works or is successful before a full launch.
Pique – To stimulate or interest someone.
Generation Z – The group of people born between the late 1990s and early 2010s.
Blockchain – A digital ledger or system that securely records information and transactions.
Perks – Additional benefits or advantages.
Subsidy – Financial assistance or support to help reduce costs.
Flock – To gather or move together in large numbers.
Volume – The amount or total quantity of something, such as sales or transactions.