Civic Group Proposes 'Wonsan Visit' for Overseas Koreans; Unification Ministry Backs Tourism
Creatrip Team
a month ago
A South Korean civic group, Hope Rail, proposed organizing "Wonsan-Galma peace trips" for overseas Koreans with Russian passports (Koryo-saram) to visit North Korea's new Wonsan-Galma coastal resort zone. The plan, presented at a National Assembly seminar, aims to build cooperation channels and gather tourism infrastructure information by targeting ethnic Koreans abroad, since South Korean citizens cannot enter under current tensions. Hope Rail plans an international briefing in Vladivostok in August. The Unification Ministry has signaled support, saying tourism is not subject to sanctions and could be a practical way to reconnect with the North; the ministry envisions 2026 as a possible year for large-scale visits by overseas Koreans. The proposal comes as Russia and China already market tours to the Wonsan complex.
