Korea Travel Fiesta 2025 Brings a Winter Scene to Manila

SM Mall of Asia Music Hall turned into a slice of Korea’s winter last August 30 and 31 as the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) staged the Korea Travel Fiesta 2025. The event highlighted travel opportunities, cultural experiences, and Hallyu entertainment in a winter-themed setting.

Opening Ceremony

The venue was styled in blue and white to set the atmosphere. The ceremony opened with remarks from Mr. Kim Nam Chun, Acting Executive Vice President of KTO’s Tourism Content Strategy Division, Consul General Sang Seung Man of the Korean Embassy in the Philippines, and Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano of the Philippine Department of Tourism.

Guests including Mr. Kim Myeong Jin (Director of the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines), Mr. Park Young Hee (Director of KTO Manila), Mr. Joaquin L. San Agustin (SM Supermalls Executive Vice President for Marketing), K-Creators Club representative Raymart Ignacio Enrico, and Hallyu stars Se7en, Kim Dong Jun, and Kim Myung Soo joined together to light a winter capsule that signaled the official start of the festivities.

Performances and Cultural Showcases

The event featured performances from the cast of Show Musical Dream High—Se7en, Kim Dong Jun, Sunye, Lim Sejun, and Kim Dahyun. Kim Myung Soo also held a short talk and serenade session.

The K-Tigers taekwondo team demonstrated their routines and even invited the audience to try. Dance crew ARTix energized both days with performances and a live tutorial. Filipino artists Sandra Dela Cruz, Venisse Sy, and cover groups KAIROS and PARADIGM added to the program.

Talk Shows and Interactive Segments

The first day included a K-Creators Club talk where local influencers shared insights from their K-Culture Challenge Tour in Korea. The second day featured Melai Cantiveros-Francisco and Jason Francisco, who talked about their family’s winter trip to Korea.

Visitors also joined hands-on sessions such as a gimbap cooking demo with Chef Ara Lee and a K-Beauty class with artist Ryu Bomi. Each day closed with a raffle offering gadgets and round-trip tickets from Jeju Air, Asiana Airlines, and Korean Air.

Booths and Travel Deals

Beyond the stage, booths offered interactive activities. Visitors tried hanbok and SOPA jackets, learned the Korean alphabet, created handicrafts, took caricature portraits, and snapped photos in a winter-themed LED cube.

Travel agencies and airlines promoted discounted tour packages and flights. A featured deal gave visitors a subsidy of PHP 5,600 for a domestic round-trip flight within Korea when purchasing an international ticket from the Philippines. Ski resorts also offered seasonal travel packages.

The Korea Travel Fiesta 2025 gave Filipino audiences a closer look at Korean culture and winter tourism. With a mix of performances, cultural activities, and travel promotions, it reinforced Korea’s position as a top destination for local travelers across all seasons.