Korea Travel Online

The Hallyu Tourism Team of the Korea Tourism Organization offered a special opportunity for online Hallyu community organizers abroad to watch, feel, and enjoy the Korean wave, or Hallyu. Applicants submitted their travel itineraries and proposals for a chance to be invited to a five-day, all-expense paid trip to Korea. The 50 winners who were selected to take part in the tour will also be appointed as a Hallyu supporter by KTO President Charm Lee during the official ceremony on Thursday, August 8.

Thematically centered on experiencing all things Hallyu, the “Surfing the Korean Wave” tour has a fun-filled itinerary that includes dancing, singing, beauty and make-up, shopping and more. The tour started off on Monday, August 5 with a dance lesson at Def Dance Skool. Located in the Gangnam district, Def Dance Skool is one of the top private dance schools in the city that provides professional K-pop classes and dance lessons to foreigners.

Marilia Schnaia, president of K-pop Italia, says of the experience, “The song was a little difficult this dance class is amazing. I’ve never danced in my life but now, after half an hour, we’re already dancing. I’ve always wanted to dance to a k-pop song but I don’t have the time but now I’m discovering a new world.”

For lunch, the participants had some modernized versions of bunsik classics like kimbap and tteokbokki at popular fusion chain restaurant School Food.

They also showed off their knowledge of k-pop songs at Everysing in Apgujeong. Run by SM Entertainment, Everysing' karaoke system has an entire stock of all the songs ever recorded under the label. The second floor features a gift shop selling Girls Generation memorabilia, Super Junior postcards, and more.

Some of them are no stranger to noraebang or singing rooms. “I used to be an English teacher here so it’s fun to be here as a tourist, it’s a completely different experience,” said Cindy Anne Zimmer, founder and editor of ATK Magazine, an online magazine about Korean culture based in Canada.

For a coffee break, they stopped by Cube Studio Café in Cheongdam-dong. This coffee shop doubles as a place for fans to meet their k-pop idols under Cube Entertainment such as Beast, 4minute, G.NA and BTOB. Autographed merchandise can be seen around the café, and some of them are available for purchase.

Next stop was Gwangjang Market where they had a hearty meal of bindaetteokand completed the mission of the day.

At Skinanniversary in Paju City, Gyeonggi-do, they got some beauty tips, put on make-up and posed in front of a camera for a photo shoot.

They also stopped by the Korea House to make some Korean food and try on some hanbok.

Other activities in their itinerary include a tour of Bukchon Hanok Village, Lotte World, watching the non-verbal show Jump, attending the live taping of Show Champion, a chicken and beer party by Banpo Bridge, and shopping at Dongdaemun. The tour will conclude with a farewell dinner in Hongdae on Friday, August 9, 2013.

More photos and interview clips in the video below:

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