Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Yu In-chon speaks during a press conference announcing the final selection of 13 cultural cities, a government project to foster regional balance by designating cities with unique cultures as cultural cities at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul, Dec. 26, 2024. Yonhap

In the wake of the Jeju Air flight crash on Sunday and political unrest triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol's controversial martial law declaration, the government promised to introduce a range of measures to revitalize the tourism industry and reduce public anxiety, Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Yu In-chon said Wednesday.

The minister expressed condolences to the victims and the bereaved families of the deadly plane crash that occurred at Muan International Airport on Sunday. The ministry forecasts that it expects to face increased external uncertainties and volatility in 2025, adding that it will ensure tourists visiting Korea and domestic tourists can travel safely.

"As we begin a new year, we should sing of hope, but the reality before us is very heavy. A few days ago, the tragic accident of the Jeju Air passenger plane plunged our nation into even greater sorrow. I express my deep condolences to the victims and their families," he said in his New Year's address.

"We will do our utmost to create an environment where citizens' anxieties can be somewhat alleviated and they can travel safely."

His remarks can be interpreted as a response to the growing unease among tourists due to the increased political instability caused by Yoon's declaration of martial law and the fatal Jeju Air accident.

"As external uncertainties and volatility increase, we are also required to make an all-out response to turn off the red light that has been lit for inbound tourism. To that end, the ministry must quickly implement the tourism market stabilization measures announced on Dec. 26," the minister said.

Last Dec. 26, the government announced that it would execute 70 percent of the tourism budget in the first half of the year to revitalize the tourism market and improve immigration convenience to make it easier for foreign tourists to visit the country. This year, the ministry's budget for the tourism sector is 1.35 trillion won ($918.2 million), a 2.4 percent increase from 2024.

The measures include allowing visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists arriving on cruise ships, and considering allowing visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists arriving on other passenger ships or aircraft.

To attract overseas tourists, the government also plans to expand the scale of the Korea Grand Sale event held annually between January and February, offering discounts on airline tickets, department stores, duty free shops and convenience stores to tourists. In June, the government will hold the Beyond K Festa (tentative title) to widely promote Korean culture.

The government also decided to pursue legal amendments to revitalize local tourism, such as allowing domestic tourists in shared accommodations through platforms like Airbnb, which are currently legally restricted to foreign guests only.

In terms of cultural content, the minister mentioned the global popularity of the Netflix series "Squid Game" Season 2, and added that support will be strengthened to maintain the competitiveness of Korean content in the global market.

"We must closely monitor internal and external risk factors and respond nimbly to market conditions to strongly support the continued competitiveness of K-content in the global market," Yu said.

In the sports sector, the minister stated that sports organizations would continue to take measures to reform outdated practices and strengthen fairness and transparency. He also emphasized that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, and promised to support more active cultural exchanges and cooperation at the private level.