Foreign nationals taking part in a K-pop dance class pose at Ktown4u in southern Seoul in this undated photo. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Friday that it unveiled a series of tourism programs for foreign visitors to experience a diverse range of Korean culture and entertainment.

Running through November, these hallyu, or Korean wave, programs are designed to offer immersive experiences in popular culture, beauty, Korean cuisine and traditional arts, aiming to capitalize on the global popularity of Korean culture and enhance the city's appeal as a tourist destination.

The experience programs have already seen significant interest, as approximately 3,000 participants from 78 countries enjoyed them in 2023. They feature collaborations with leading companies in the culture, entertainment, beauty and food industries.

Among the highlights is a K-pop dance class, which allows participants to learn dance routines from popular K-pop songs.

Also, the K-beauty makeup class offers insights into K-pop idol makeup techniques from leading beauty brands such as AmorePacific and Espoir. Food enthusiasts can join a cooking class that is jointly offered with CJ The Kitchen and a kimchi-making class at Museum Kimchikan, to learn how to prepare traditional Korean dishes.

Some other classes include craft sessions with artisans in Bukchon Hanok Village and a makgeolli brewing experience, where visitors can create their own traditional Korean rice wine.

In addition to these, the city government is offering the K-Culture Camp, a new initiative aimed at foreign children with a deep interest in Korean culture. This program includes up to two weeks of K-pop training camps led by instructors who have trained notable artists, and fashion catwalk camps where participants can experience Seoul's fashion shows.

All activities are conducted in English and are free for foreign tourists. Interested visitors can find more information and apply through the city's official tourism website.

"We aim to continuously develop experiential and extended tourism products that leverage Seoul's unique resources, making it a city where visitors want to stay longer and return," an official from the city government said.